Senate Bill 2413, also known as House Bill 2259, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 11, to enhance the legal framework surrounding quality improvement committees (QICs) in healthcare. The bill introduces new definitions, including "adverse healthcare incident," which refers to outcomes resulting in patient death or injury, and "open discussion," which encompasses communications related to QIC activities. It establishes that good faith disclosures made by healthcare providers to patients or their families do not waive the confidentiality protections of QIC documentation. Additionally, it clarifies that findings from QICs are not required to be disclosed in legal proceedings, ensuring that participation in QIC reviews remains confidential.

The bill further allows healthcare providers to engage in voluntary open discussions with patients or their families following adverse incidents, emphasizing that such communications are not admissions of liability and are protected from discovery. It outlines the conditions for these discussions, including the need to inform participants of their right to legal counsel and the implications of participating in the discussion. Furthermore, it establishes a process for waiving confidentiality on open discussion materials, requiring a written waiver that specifies the materials involved and the scope of the waiver. This legislation aims to promote transparency and communication in healthcare while maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-11-272(b), 68-11-272, 68-11-272(c)