Ask the expert: Do the changes to Section 1921 of the Social Security Act affect the medical staff peer review process?

The requirements for reporting by peer review organizations under Section 1921 are not expected to affect hospital reporting. Section 1921 requires the reporting of ‘‘any negative action or finding’’ by a peer review organization. For the purposes of Section 1921 reporting, the term ‘‘peer review organization’’ does not include the internal peer review committees of hospitals, professional societies, or other healthcare entities as defined in the current National Practitioner Data Bank regulations. To be subject to reporting requirements, the peer review organization must be a stand-alone organization separate from a hospital or other healthcare entity.

This week’s question and answer are from “Section 1921 changes unite NPDB and HIPDB,” in the April issue of Medical Staff Briefing.