[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 107 (Monday, June 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 27904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13788]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
National Practitioner Data Bank: Availability of and Cost Options
for Copies of Public Use Data File
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS), announces the availability of a
public use data file which includes selected information from over
120,000 reports submitted to the National Practitioner Data Bank
between September 1, 1990 and December 31, 1995. HRSA is considering
making updated versions of the file available every 6 months. The file
contains information concerning (1) malpractice payments made for the
benefit of physicians, dentists, and other health care practitioners
and (2) adverse licensure, clinical privileges, and professional
society membership actions concerning physicians and dentists.
Selected variables in the file include: type of practitioner, type
of reporting entity, practitioner's State, malpractice payment amount,
reasons for malpractice payment, date of payment, and whether payment
is a result of judgment or settlement. The file also includes
information on the reason for licensure and clinical privileges adverse
action, the type of action taken, and the duration of such action.
The file does not contain information which would allow
identification of individual physicians, dentists, or other health care
practitioners. Accordingly, hospitals cannot use this file to meet
their obligation under section 425 of Public Law 99-660 (42 U.S.C.
11135) to query the National Practitioner Data Bank on individual
practitioners. The file also does not contain information identifying
either entities which filed reports with the National Practitioner Data
Bank or patients. This information is being made available pursuant to
section 427(b) of Public Law 99-660 (42 U.S.C. 11137(b)).
The public use file is in ASCII format and is approximately 19
megabytes in size. It is available only in compressed form on IBM-PC
compatible high density 3.5 inch diskettes. In addition to the data
itself, a complete file description in ASCII text format is included on
the diskettes. An introductory copy of the file may be obtained at no
charge by calling the National Practitioner Data Bank ``Help Line'' at
1-800-767-6732.
HRSA will be establishing appropriate charges for subsequent
editions of the file. Charges will be based on associated
administrative costs, file preparation costs, distribution costs,
processing costs, etc.
We would like to receive comments on your potential use of this
file. Please send comments to: Thomas C. Croft, Director, Division of
Quality Assurance, Room 8A-55, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland
20857 and mark ``Attention: Public Use File.''
Dated: May 25, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-13788 Filed 5-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
