National Practitioner Data Bank

The National Practitioner Data Bank ('the NPDB') is a computer database run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that lists damaging information about United States physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Hospitals and state licensing boards submit negative information on physicians and other health care practitioners, including clinical privileges restrictions, actions against physicians' licenses, and medical malpractice awards that HHS publishes in the NPDB database without review. Only authorized users (e.g. hospitals and state licensing boards considering a physician's application for hospital privileges or a state medical license) are permitted by statute to 'query' this information in the NPDB. The National Practitioner Data Bank ('the NPDB') is a computer database run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that lists damaging information about United States physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Hospitals and state licensing boards submit negative information on physicians and other health care practitioners, including clinical privileges restrictions, actions against physicians' licenses, and medical malpractice awards that HHS publishes in the NPDB database without review. Only authorized users (e.g. hospitals and state licensing boards considering a physician's application for hospital privileges or a state medical license) are permitted by statute to 'query' this information in the NPDB. The NPDB was created by Congress with the primary goals of improving health care quality, protecting the public and reducing health care fraud and abuse. The NPDB is managed by the Bureau of Health Workforce of the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Before May 6, 2013, the Data Bank comprised the National Practitioner Data Bank and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank. The two were consolidated by Section 6403 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Public Law 111-148. In enacting, the National Practitioner Data Bank-enabling legislation, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986, Congress intended for physicians to receive 'full due process rights with notice and representation'. (Statement of HCQIA lead sponsor Ron Wyden)