SB 540

Abstract

Health professionals; unprofessional conduct; reporting. Requires the chief executive officer and the chief of staff of every hospital or other health care institution in the Commonwealth, the director of every licensed home health or hospice organization, the director of every accredited home health organization exempt from licensure, the administrator of every licensed assisted living facility, and the administrator of every provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in the Commonwealth to report to the Department of Health Professions any information of which he may become aware in his professional capacity that indicates a reasonable belief that a health care provider is in need of treatment or has been admitted as a patient for treatment of substance abuse or psychiatric illness that may render the health professional a danger to himself, the public, or his patients, or that he determines, following review and any necessary investigation or consultation with the appropriate internal boards or committees authorized to impose disciplinary action on a health professional, indicates that there is a reasonable probability that such health professional may have engaged in unethical, fraudulent, or unprofessional conduct. Current law requires information to be reported if the information indicates, after reasonable investigation and consultation with the appropriate internal boards or committees authorized to impose disciplinary action on a health professional, a reasonable probability that such health professional may have engaged in unethical, fraudulent, or unprofessional conduct. This bill is identical to HB 471.

Health professionals; unprofessional conduct; reporting.Requires the chief executive officer and the chief of staff of every hospitalor other health care institution in the Commonwealth, the director of everylicensed home health or hospice organization, the director of every accreditedhome health organization exempt from licensure, the administrator of everylicensed assisted living facility, and the administrator of every providerlicensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services inthe Commonwealth to report to the Department of Health Professions anyinformation of which he may become aware in his professional capacity thatindicates a reasonable belief that a health care provider is in need oftreatment or has been admitted as a patient for treatment of substance abuse orpsychiatric illness that may render the health professional a danger tohimself, the public or his patients, or that he determines, following reviewand any necessary investigation or consultation with the appropriate internalboards or committees authorized to impose disciplinary action on a healthprofessional, indicates that there is a reasonable probability that such healthprofessional may have engaged in unethical, fraudulent, or unprofessionalconduct. Current law requires information to be reported if the informationindicates, after reasonable investigation and consultation with the appropriateinternal boards or committees authorized to impose disciplinary action on ahealth professional, a reasonable probability that such health professional mayhave engaged in unethical, fraudulent, or unprofessional conduct.