Idaho Reporting Statute

This information was last updated by Horty, Springer & Mattern on March 16, 2021.

IDAHO

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Idaho Code §39-1393 Notification of Professional Review Action Imposed Upon Physician or Emergency Medical Services Personnel

(1) Any health care organization in this state that is by law required to conduct peer review or which voluntarily formally elects to conduct professional review actions shall notify the board of medicine of professional review actions taken against physicians licensed in Idaho required to be reported as provided in this section. Such reports shall be made to the board of medicine within fifteen (15) days of completion of the professional review action by the health care organization. For emergency medical services personnel, such reports shall be made to the department of health and welfare within fifteen (15) days of completion of the professional review action by the health care organization. Such required reports shall be made on forms approved by the board of medicine for reports concerning physicians, or the department of health and welfare for reports concerning emergency medical services personnel, consistent with the reporting requirements of this section. The reporting obligation shall not be stayed by the filing of any court proceeding unless otherwise ordered by the court.

(2) A health care organization in Idaho shall report to the board of medicine if it:

(a) Takes a professional review action against a physician licensed in Idaho and imposes a sanction of the type included in subsection (3) of this section which lasts longer than thirty (30) days; or

(b) Accepts a voluntary sanction by a physician licensed in Idaho of the type identified in subsection (3) of this section while the physician is under investigation or to avoid investigation by the health care organization relating to the professional competence or professional conduct of the physician or in exchange for the health care organization not conducting such an investigation or initiating a professional review action, if the sanction lasts longer than thirty (30) days.

(3) Professional review action sanctions against a physician which must be reported to the board of medicine pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be:

(a) Restriction or limitation of privileges;

(b) Revocation of privileges;

(c) Suspension of privileges;

(d) Reduction of privileges;

(e) Denial of a request for initial privileges;

(f) Submission to monitoring of the physician’s physical or mental condition;

(g) Submission to monitoring of the physician’s delivery of medical services other than to assess and monitor the physician’s qualifications for new or additional privileges;

(h) Surrender of privileges;

(i) Summary suspension or reduction of privileges lasting longer than thirty (30) days;

(j) Termination of employment;

(k) Suspension of employment lasting longer than thirty (30) days.

(4) The reporting requirements of this section shall not apply to:

(a) Actions based on compliance with medical records or confidentiality requirements of a health care organization;

(b) Voluntary requests for assistance or monitoring by a physician as part of an educational process to improve physician skills or enhance patient care when unrelated to a professional review action concerning the quality or necessity of patient medical care;

(c) Voluntary or involuntary revocation, nonrenewal, denial, reduction, restriction, resignation, or limitation of privileges or employment of a physician based upon factors not directly impacting the quality of patient care or safety of practice of the physician;

(d) Adverse actions taken against a physician by a health care organization that is not required by law to conduct peer review and that has not voluntarily formally elected to conduct professional review actions; and

(e) The denial of a physician’s request for additional privileges or credentials with a health care organization.

(5) The report to the board of medicine required by this section shall include a statement of the quality of care concerns or professional conduct that is the basis of the professional review action or investigation and the reportable professional review action sanction voluntarily accepted or involuntarily imposed.

(6) A health care organization required to report a professional review action concerning a physician to the board of medicine pursuant to this section shall, if requested by the board of medicine, provide to the board the following:

(a) A statement of the specific quality of care concerns or professional conduct which resulted in the professional review action sanction;

(b) A statement of the specific professional review action sanction; and

(c) Any patient care records of the health care organization regarding the care provided by the reported physician. However, the board of medicine may not request or require production of any peer review records from any person or health care organization, including the identification of which particular patient care records were selected for, or reviewed, examined or discussed in any peer review activity of a health care organization, or the method used by the health care organization to select such patient care records for peer review.

(7) The records lawfully requested by the board of medicine pursuant to subsection (6) of this section shall be provided by the health care organization without a subpoena or court order. If the health care organization fails to comply with the board of medicine’s lawful request, the board may petition the district court for an order compelling compliance with the board’s request, which shall be granted if disclosure is required by law.

(8) Professional review action sanctions against emergency medical services personnel, whether voluntary or involuntary, which are the result of any action, conduct, or failure to act which is inconsistent with the professionalism and/or standards established in the rules governing emergency medical services personnel as promulgated by the department of health and welfare must be reported to the department of health and welfare.

(9) The report to the department of health and welfare required by this section shall include a statement of the quality of care concerns or professional conduct that is the basis of the professional review action or investigation and the reportable professional review action sanction voluntarily accepted or involuntarily imposed.

(10) Any person or health care organization that provides notification as required by law, or in a good faith belief that such notification is required by law, shall be immune from any civil or other liability arising from providing the notification. Such immunity shall likewise pertain to the provision of files, records and information a health care organization may in good faith provide to the board of medicine pursuant to this section or other applicable law. Such materials provided to the board of medicine shall be subject to disclosure by the board according to chapter 1, title 74, Idaho Code, and available only to the board of medicine and its staff unless and until such matter becomes the subject of formal proceedings by or before the board of medicine or authorized by it.

 

§ 54-1818. Reporting of violations by physicians
A licensed physician or physician assistant possessing knowledge of a violation of section 54-1814, Idaho Code, by any other physician or physician assistant licensed to practice medicine in Idaho shall with reasonable promptness report such knowledge to the board of medicine or its duly authorized committee, agency or representative, and failure to do so shall subject such person to disciplinary action by the state board of medicine as in its discretion the board shall deem proper, pursuant to procedures provided in chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code; provided, no person shall be civilly liable for communications, reports or acts of any kind made, given or handled under the provisions of this act. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, no physician or physician assistant shall be required to report, nor shall any physician or physician assistant report, any information known, learned or discovered by that person as a result of participation in peer review or access to peer review records, as defined in section 39-1392a, Idaho Code. This provision shall not relieve a health care organization of its notification obligations as set forth in section 39-1393, Idaho Code.

 

§ 54-1814. Grounds for medical discipline
Every person licensed to practice medicine, or registered as an intern or resident in this state is subject to discipline by the board pursuant to the procedures set forth in this chapter and rules promulgated pursuant thereto upon any of the following grounds:
(1) Being convicted of a felony, pleading guilty to a felony, or the finding of guilt by a jury or court of commission of a felony.
(2) Using false, fraudulent or forged statements or documents, diplomas or credentials in connection with any licensing or other requirements of this act.
(3) Practicing medicine under a false or assumed name in this or any other state.
(4) Advertising the practice of medicine in any unethical or unprofessional manner.
(5) Knowingly aiding or abetting any person to practice medicine who is not authorized to practice medicine as provided in this chapter.
(6) Performing or procuring an unlawful abortion or aiding or abetting the performing or procuring of an unlawful abortion.
(7) Providing health care which fails to meet the standard of health care provided by other qualified physicians or physician assistants in the same community or similar communities, taking into account his training, experience and the degree of expertise to which he holds himself out to the public.
(8) Dividing fees or gifts or agreeing to split or divide fees or gifts received for professional services with any person, institution or corporation in exchange for referral.
(9) Giving or receiving or aiding or abetting the giving or receiving of rebates, either directly or indirectly.
(10) Inability to obtain or renew a license to practice medicine, or revocation, suspension, or other discipline of a license to practice medicine by any other state, territory, district of the United States or Canada, unless it can be shown that such action was not related to the competence of the person to practice medicine or to any conduct designated herein.
(11) Prescribing or furnishing narcotic or hallucinogenic drugs to addicted persons to maintain their addictions and level of usage without attempting to treat the primary condition requiring the use of narcotics.
(12) Prescribing or furnishing narcotic, hypnotic, hallucinogenic, stimulating or dangerous drugs for other than treatment of any disease, injury or medical condition.
(13) Failing to safeguard the confidentiality of medical records or other medical information pertaining to identifiable patients, except as required or authorized by law.
(14) Directly promoting the sale of drugs, devices, appliances or goods to a patient that are unnecessary and not medically indicated.
(15) Abandoning a patient.
(16) Willfully and intentionally representing that a manifestly incurable disease or injury or other manifestly incurable condition can be permanently cured.
(17) Failing to supervise the activities of interns, residents, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, or physician assistants.
(18) Practicing medicine when a license pursuant to this chapter is suspended, revoked or inactive.
(19) Practicing medicine in violation of a voluntary restriction or terms of probation pursuant to this chapter.
(20) Refusing to divulge to the board upon demand the means, method, device or instrumentality used in the treatment of a disease, injury, ailment, or infirmity.
(21) Committing any act constituting a felony.
(22) Engaging in any conduct which constitutes an abuse or exploitation of a patient arising out of the trust and confidence placed in the physician by the patient.
(23) Being convicted of or pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicating substances or being convicted of or pleading guilty to other drug or alcohol related criminal charges.
(24) Failing to comply with a board order entered by the board.
(25) Failing to comply with the requirements of the abortion complications reporting act, chapter 95, title 39, Idaho Code.
(26) Engaging in a pattern of unprofessional or disruptive behavior or interaction in a health care setting that interferes with patient care or could reasonably be expected to adversely impact the quality of care rendered to a patient. Such behavior does not have to have caused actual patient harm to be considered unprofessional or disruptive.
(27) Interfering with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding by willful misrepresentation of facts or by use of threats of harassment against any patient, member of a board or committee on professional discipline, board staff, hearing officer, or witness in an attempt to influence the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding, investigation, or other legal action.
(28) Delegating professional responsibilities to:
(a) An unlicensed person when the licensee knows or has reason to know that such person is not qualified by training, experience, or license to carry them out; or
(b) A person licensed by this state to engage in activities which may involve the practice of medicine when the delegating licensee knows or has reason to know that the delegated activities are outside the licensed person’s scope of practice.
(29) Failure to report the charge or conviction of a felony to the board within thirty (30) days of the charge.