Screening physician applicants using the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is good protocol. But do so without knowing the clearinghouse’s shortfalls and requirements and you eliminate top candidates and invite insurance increases.
It’s like the old adage: Garbage in is garbage out. Unfortunately, that’s how it is with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services built NPDB. And some of their new guidelines complicate matters even more.
Take this loophole for example: If you have a physician who takes maternity leave or goes on sabbatical while your surgery center or hospital is under an investigation – even if it’s a patient complaint that you expect to resolve, you must self-report her as resigning her privileges. Based on NPDB definitions, she will be excluded from the allowed applicant pool. Help is on the way though.
On Thursday, July 11th at 1 pm ET, legal expert Elizabeth “Libby” Snelson, gives you the tools you need to tell who is a “good doctor” and to verify your own records. You really can’t afford to miss this session. The impact of system misuse is lost immunity, missed elite candidates and adverse actions.
By attending this 60-minute online training, you’ll gain proven strategies and sanction blocking pointers like:
- Tell who is a “bad doctor” with spot on query results interpretation
- Relying on the NPDB? Know the clearinghouse’s gaps!
- How to change ASC NPDB hiring restrictions policy
- When to file leaves of absence to keep antitrust immunity
- Reduce liability for firing/terminating privileges
- Identify authorized query users to avert penalty
- Surrender scope widened = Avoid negging good candidates
- And so much more …
Using the NPDB is really unavoidable if you are an eligible entity. You can make the reports work for you … preventing hiring providers convicted of fraud and abuse. But you’d be surprised what leading doctors you’re excluding from your pool and the self-reporting requirements you must adhere to.
Don’t be one of those groups that just uses the national flagging system and usurps compliance regulations and good doctors. Sign up for this upcoming, expert-led training online and learn how to better use the NPDB to boost your candidate pool and avoid compliance disasters. Don’t wait. Sign up today!
Elizabeth A. “Libby” Snelson, Esq. is the legal counsel for Medical Staff PLLC. She works for physicians, medical staffs and medical societies across the country handling “disruptive practitioner” procedures, peer review problems, and other compliance matters. Libby serves as an expert witness in Data Bank and credentialing cases.
Prior to moving home to the Midwest, Libby was the Director of the Division of Physician Contracting and Medical Staff Affairs of the California Medical Association. A frequent speaker on medical staff legal issues, she presents at medical societies and medical staff leadership retreats. She is Past President of the American Society of Medical Association Counsel, and past Vice President of the ABA’s Physician Issues Interest Group.
Medical staff bylaws are a primary focus of Libby’s practice. 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.
