North Dakota Reporting Statute

The information on this page was last updated by Horty, Springer & Mattern on February 19, 2021.

NORTH DAKOTA

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

N.D. Cent. Code §26.1-01-05 Reporting and review of medical malpractice claims, settlements, and judgments.

1. A health care provider or the insurer of a health care provider, if any, shall report all claims, settlements of claims, or final judgments against the health care provider to the commissioner. The report must be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner and must provide those facts the commissioner deems necessary to gather adequate information regarding claims, settlements of claims, and final judgments against health care providers. For the purposes of this section, a “health care provider” includes any person, corporation, facility, or institution licensed by this state to provide health care or professional services as a physician, hospital, dentist, professional or practical nurse, physician’s aide, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, or psychologist, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of employment.

2. The commissioner shall forward copies of all reports required by this section to the appropriate board of professional registration, examination, or licensure. That board shall review all reports which it receives and may take any necessary disciplinary action against a health care provider where the action is appropriate, including censure, imposition of probation, or suspension or revocation of the health care provider’s license. The board shall conduct the review as an administrative hearing in the manner provided in chapter 28-32, including the giving of appropriate notice.

§43-05-16.5 Reporting obligations. [Podiatrist] 

1. A person who has knowledge of any conduct constituting grounds for discipline under this chapter shall report the violation to the board.

2. A hospital, clinic, or other health care institution, facility, or organization shall report to the board any action taken by the hospital, clinic, or other health care facility, institution, or organization to revoke, suspend, restrict, or condition a podiatrist’s privilege to practice or treat patients in the hospital, clinic, or other health care facility or institution, or as part of the organization, any denial of privileges or any other disciplinary action. The hospital, clinic, or other health care facility, institution, or organization shall also report the resignation of any podiatrist before the conclusion of any disciplinary proceeding, or before the commencement of formal charges but after the podiatrist had knowledge that formal charges were contemplated or in preparation. No report is required of a podiatrist voluntarily limiting practice at a hospital if the podiatrist notifies all hospitals at which the podiatrist has privileges of the voluntary limitation and the reasons for it.

3. Four times a year, as prescribed by the board, each insurer providing professional liability insurance to podiatrists shall submit to the board a report concerning any podiatrist against whom podiatric medical malpractice settlements or awards have been made. The report must contain at least the following information:

a. The total number of podiatric malpractice settlements or awards made to the plaintiff.

b. The date the podiatric malpractice settlements or awards to the plaintiff were made.

c. The allegations contained in the claim or complaint leading to the settlements or awards made to the plaintiff.

d. The dollar amount of each podiatric malpractice settlement or award.

e. The regular address of the practice of the podiatrist against whom an award was made or with whom a settlement was made.

f. The name of the podiatrist against whom an award was made or with whom a settlement was made.

In addition, the insurance company shall report to the board any information it has that tends to substantiate a charge that a podiatrist may have engaged in conduct prohibited under this chapter.

4. The clerks of court of the district courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction shall report to the board any judgment or other determination of the court that adjudges or includes a finding that a podiatrist is mentally ill; mentally incompetent; chemically dependent; guilty of a felony; guilty of a violation of federal or state narcotics laws or controlled substances acts; guilty of an abuse or fraud under medicare, medicaid, or medical assistance laws or rules; appoints a guardian of the podiatrist; or provides for the civil commitment of a podiatrist.

5. Reports required by this section must be submitted no later than thirty days after the occurrence of the reportable event or transaction. The board may provide forms for the submission of reports required by this section, may require that reports be submitted on the forms provided, and may adopt rules necessary to assure prompt and accurate reporting.

§43-17.1-05.1. Reporting requirements – Penalty.

1. A physician, a physician assistant, a health care institution in the state, a state agency, or a law enforcement agency in the state having actual knowledge that a licensed physician or physician assistant may have committed any of the grounds for disciplinary action provided by law or by rules adopted by the board promptly shall report that information in writing to the investigative panel of the board. A medical licensee or any institution from which the medical licensee voluntarily resigns or voluntarily limits the licensee’s staff privileges shall report that licensee’s action to the investigative panel of the board if that action occurs while the licensee is under formal or informal investigation by the institution or a committee of the institution for any reason related to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, or mental or physical impairment.
2. Upon receiving a report concerning a licensee an investigative panel shall, or on its own motion an investigative panel may, investigate any evidence that appears to show a licensee is or may have committed any of the grounds for disciplinary action provided by law or by rules adopted by the board.
3. A person required to report under this section that makes a report in good faith is not subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for making the report. For purposes of any civil proceeding, the good faith of any person that makes a report pursuant to this section is presumed. A physician who obtains information in the course of a physician-patient relationship in which the patient is another physician is not required to report if the treating physician successfully counsels the other physician to limit or withdraw from practice to the extent required by the impairment. A physician who obtains information in the course of a professional peer review pursuant to chapter 23-34 is not required to report pursuant to this section. A physician who does not report information obtained in a professional peer review is not subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for not making a report. For purposes of this section, a person has actual knowledge if that person acquired the information by personal observation or under circumstances that cause that person to believe there exists a substantial likelihood that the information is correct.
4. An agency or health care institution that violates this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. A physician or physician assistant who violates this section is subject to administrative action by the board as specified by law or by administrative rule.