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:
- Agreements not to exercise privileges while under an investigation (Q. 22)
- Leave of absence while under investigation that restricts privileges (Q.23)
- Reappointment application review (Q.24)
- Resignation while subject to a “quality improvement plan” (Q. 25)
- Restrictions versus generally-applicable guidelines regarding first assistants and practitioner specific requirements (Q.31)
- A practitioners lapse of privileges at the end of a scheduled term (Q.46)
- Guidelines on updating NPDB reports modified by Court order (Q.49)
Click here for more information regarding the
NPDB Guidebook.
