Brief Description: Modifying hospital reporting of restrictions on health care practitioners.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Keiser, Deccio, Kline, Parlette, Mulliken and Pflug; by request of Department of Health).

Hearing Date: 3/29/05

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Hospitals are required to report to certain state or federal government agencies when they take specific actions to restrict or terminate some health care providers' licenses. In Washington, when a hospital terminates or restricts the clinical privileges of a physician because of his or her commission of any act of unprofessional conduct, it must notify the Medical Quality Assurance Commission within 60 days of the action.

Nationally, hospitals and other health care entities must report any professional review actions that adversely affect a physician's or dentist's clinical privileges to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). Hospitals also have the option of reporting to the NPDB when any adverse actions are taken against the clinical privileges of health care providers other than physicians and dentists. Reports must be made to the NPDB within 15 days from the date that the action was taken.

Summary of Bill:

The requirement that hospitals report to the Medical Quality Assurance Commission the restriction or termination of a physician's privileges due to the commission of an act of unprofessional conduct is broadened to include additional categories of health care providers. The broader requirements direct hospitals to report to the Department of Health (Department) when the practice of a health care provider is restricted, suspended, limited, or terminated due to the commission of an act of unprofessional conduct, or if it is voluntarily or involuntarily restricted or terminated to avoid action by a hospital.

The health care professions that are subject to the reports are: pharmacists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, dentists, naturopaths, optometrists, osteopathic physicians and surgeons, osteopathic physician assistants, physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, and psychologists.

The time for a hospital to report to the Department is reduced from 60 days to 15 days. A hospital, hospital administrator, or hospital executive officer that files a report is immune from liability related to the report. The Department must notify the reporting hospital of the disciplining authority's case disposition decision. The Department may not raise hospital license fees to pay for the program prior to July 2007.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 28, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.