Chapter F: Subject Statements and the Dispute Process

Overview

The NPDB is an information clearinghouse created by Congress with the primary goals of improving health care quality, protecting the public, and reducing health care fraud and abuse in the United States. The NPDB collects information on medical malpractice payments and certain adverse actions and discloses that information to eligible entities to facilitate comprehensive reviews of the credentials of health care practitioners, entities, providers, and suppliers. These payments and actions are required to be reported to the NPDB under Title IV of Public Law 99-660, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986; Section 1921 of the Social Security Act; Section 1128E of the Social Security Act; and their implementing regulations found at 45 CFR Part 60.

The NPDB is committed to maintaining accurate information and ensuring that subjects of reports are informed when a report concerning them is submitted to the NPDB. This chapter describes the process by which the NPDB notifies subjects of reports and avenues available to subjects who may not agree with the content of a report, including adding a subject statement, disputing the report, and entering the report into Dispute Resolution.