{4:00 minutes to read} Healthcare practitioners should be careful: What happens with your professional license in one state may affect your existing or future license in another.
Many healthcare practitioners have licenses in multiple states. If your license in one state is affected by an action or investigation against you, it’s important to know that there may be reciprocity with other states. While each state has their own licensing rules, you may be in breach or there may be implications to other state licenses as well.
If a claim arises against you in any state, make sure to inform your attorney of every state where you are licensed. Do not just focus on the one state as it will not be in your best interests.
It is important to understand that there may also be public access to information as it relates to your professional license. If you were fined, found negligent, or there was some type of fraud, whatever the case may be, the public may acquire that information. Understandably, this could have a negative impact for you and your practice. Keep in mind that for each state you are licensed to practice in, it is your responsibility to ensure that the information is updated to reflect the current status. If your record is not updated accordingly, you may be held responsible.
Another potential issue that practitioners face is if there ever is a claim against you—whether directly related to your license or a malpractice claim which resulted in a verdict or settlement paid by your insurance carrier, that information will be recorded into the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
Currently, the only individuals who have access to the NPDB are related third parties: state agencies, licensing agencies and insurance companies. The general public does not have access to it, but they may at some point in the future.
The information listed in the NPDB does affect the practitioner, specifically when it comes to licensing, and practitioners really need to understand exactly what is in the NPDB against them. They can request this information, at anytime, to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date. Overall, it is in your best interest to know exactly what is in the NPDB as it relates to you and your license, as it may affect your license in your own state or your future licenses in other states.
Should there ever be an issue against your professional license, speak to an attorney, talk to them about the implications, and make sure you are fully informed of the risks and benefits associated with the claim with respect to all of your professional licenses.
Stephanie J. Rodin, Esq.
Rodin Legal, P.C.
Email: info@rodinlegal.com
Tel: (917) 345-8972
Fax: (917) 591-4428
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