Tuesday, December 11, 2018

2018 Updates to the NPDB Guidebook


           The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently updated its online National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Guidebook on October 26, 2018. This is the first time the Guidebook has been updated since April 2015. The October 2018 Guidebook added a new section titled “Length of Restriction” under Chapter E: Reporting Adverse Clinical Privileges Actions and alters language regarding the reportability of proctoring. The Guidebook also adds seven new questions and answers to the end of Chapter E. Additionally, the Guidebook clarifies that indirect action taken by a physician during an investigation maybe reportable.

            The new section titled “Length of Restriction” states that if a restriction has an adverse effect on a practitioner’s privileges for more than 30 days, then it is reportable on the 31st day, regardless if the length of the restriction is in writing. The seven new questions that address reporting requirements address the following topics:
  1. Agreements not to exercise privileges while under an investigation (Q. 22)
  2. Leave of absence while under investigation that restricts privileges (Q.23)
  3. Reappointment application review (Q.24)
  4. Resignation while subject to a “quality improvement plan” (Q. 25)
  5. Restrictions versus generally-applicable guidelines regarding first assistants and practitioner specific requirements (Q.31)
  6. A practitioners lapse of privileges at the end of a scheduled term (Q.46)
  7. Guidelines on updating NPDB reports modified by Court order (Q.49)
Click here for more information regarding the NPDB Guidebook.