National Practitioner Data Bank Expanded Reporting Parameters

Overview: Hospitals must file a National Practitioner Data Bank report on any physician's surrender of privileges if an investigation is underway. This has always been a Data Bank reporting requirement, intended to discourage plea bargains which allowed physicians to avoid being reported if they agreed to waive hearing rights.

Under the new Guidebook, expanded descriptions of "investigation" and "surrender" stretch what is to be considered a reportable surrender of privileges.

OPPE and FPPE and other peer review can be affected, as are physicians ability to make practice decisions without inadvertently tripping Data Bank reporting triggers. Medical staff bylaws and policies need to be reworked under the new Data Bank Guidebook.

Why should you Attend: Are you aware of the revisions to the National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook? New and surprising government interpretations of the regulatory scheme have been recently published. Most medical staff policies and bylaws in hospitals today do not reflect these changes. Legal protections for medical staff leaders and hospitals could be lost. Physicians will be surprised by reports generated under the new Guidebook.

Areas Covered in the Session:

• National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook changes
• Hospital reporting requirements
• Medical staff bylaws problems
• Peer review process issues
• Physician credentialing

Who Will Benefit:

• Medical Staff President/Chief of Staff
• Bylaws Committee
• Credentialing Committee
• Chief Medical Officer
• Vice President of Medical Affairs
• Chief of Staff
• Director of Medical Staff
• Medical Staff Attorney
• Hospital Counsel
• Medical Staff Manager
• Credentialing Specialist
• Human Resources Professionals

Speaker Profile

Elizabeth Snelson works for medical staffs and medical societies across the country. Medical staff bylaws are a primary focus of her practice. She also handles "disruptive practitioner" procedures, peer review problems, and other compliance matters.

A frequent speaker on medical staff legal issues, Elizabeth Snelson presents at medical staff leadership retreats and serves as an expert witness in credentialing and Data Bank cases. She is Past President of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel, and past Vice President of the ABA’s Physician Issues Interest Group. She was a member of the Joint Commission’s Task Force on medical staff bylaws. Her articles on medical staff legal issues have appeared in various publications. She is the author of The Physicians’ Guide to Medical Staff Organization Bylaws, published by the American Medical Association.