HB 2529: nonretaliation policies; health care institutions
For Committee
Assigned to HHS
Purpose
Prohibits a third-party contractor of a licensed health care institution (HCI) from retaliatory action against a health professional.
Background
HCIs are required to adopt procedures for reviewing reports made by health professionals concerning activities, policies or practices that a health professional believes violate professional standards of practice or are illegal and pose a substantial risk to the health, safety or welfare of a patient. Such procedures must include reasonable measures to maintain the confidentiality of the identities of reporting health professionals. Additionally, HCIs must adopt policies prohibiting retaliatory action against a health professional who makes a report to an HCI and who further provides information to a private health care accreditation organization or governmental entity concerning the activity, policy or practice (A.R.S. 36-450.01 & 36-450.02).
Current statute defines retaliatory action as the termination of, or other adverse action against, a health professional s employment taken by an HCI because the professional has made a report concerning an activity, policy or practice that poses substantial risk to a patient's health, safety or welfare (A.R.S. 36-450).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a third-party contractor of an HCI from retaliatory action against a health professional who makes a good faith report concerning certain activities, policies or practices.
2. Defines third-party contractor.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 02/06/2020 DP 9-0-0
COM 02/11/2020 DP 6-1-1-1
3rd Read 02/26/2020 59-0-1
KS