Senate Bill No. 124, introduced by Senator Talbot, amends existing laws regarding the confidentiality of peer review records within health systems. The bill specifically adds "health system" to the list of medical organizations whose peer review committee materials are protected from disclosure, ensuring that all records, notes, and proceedings remain confidential and are only used for the proper functions of the committee. This includes peer review committees of hospitals, medical organizations, and other healthcare entities. The bill also clarifies that these materials are not subject to discovery or court subpoenas, with certain exceptions related to hospital staff privileges.

Additionally, the bill allows for the sharing of peer review information, data, reports, or records among hospitals within the same health system for purposes such as credentialing, quality review, and patient safety activities. It stipulates that such sharing does not waive any legal or evidentiary privileges and protects the entities involved from claims or suits related to confidentiality breaches. The proposed changes aim to enhance the collaborative efforts within health systems while maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of peer review processes. The effective date for these provisions is set for August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB124 Original: 13:3(A)(2)