This information was last updated by Horty, Springer & Mattern on May 12, 2021.
MAINE
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 24 §2505 Committee and other reports.
Any professional competence committee within this State and any physician or physician assistant licensed to practice or otherwise lawfully practicing within this State shall, and any other person may, report the relevant facts to the appropriate board relating to the acts of any physician or physician assistant in this State if, in the opinion of the committee, physician, physician assistant or other person, the committee or individual has reasonable knowledge of acts of the physician or physician assistant amounting to gross or repeated medical malpractice, misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances that may result in the physician’s or the physician assistant’s performing services in a manner that endangers the health or safety of patients, professional incompetence, unprofessional conduct or sexual misconduct identified by board rule. The failure of any such professional competence committee or any such physician or physician assistant to report as required is a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged.
Except for specific protocols developed by a board pursuant to Title 32, section 2596-A, 3298 or 18323, a physician or physician assistant, dentist or committee is not responsible for reporting misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances or professional incompetence or malpractice as a result of physical or mental infirmity or by the misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances discovered by the physician, physician assistant, dentist or committee as a result of participation or membership in a professional review committee or with respect to any information acquired concerning misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances or professional incompetence or malpractice as a result of physical or mental infirmity or by the misuse of alcohol, drugs or other substances, as long as that information is reported to the professional review committee. This section does not prohibit an impaired physician, physician assistant or dentist from seeking alternative forms of treatment.
The confidentiality of reports made to a board under this section is governed by this chapter.
§2506. Provider, entity and carrier reports.
A health care provider or health care entity shall, within 60 days, report in writing to the disciplined practitioner’s board or authority the name of any licensed, certified or registered employee or person privileged by the provider or entity whose employment, including employment through a 3rd party, or privileges have been revoked, suspended, limited or terminated or who resigned while under investigation or to avoid investigation for reasons related to clinical competence or unprofessional conduct, together with pertinent information relating to that action. Pertinent information includes: a description of the adverse action; the name of the practitioner involved; the date, the location and a description of the event or events giving rise to the adverse action; and identification of the complainant giving rise to the adverse action. Upon written request, the following information must be released to the board or authority within 20 days of receipt of the request: the names of the patients whose care by the disciplined practitioner gave rise to the adverse action; medical records relating to the event or events giving rise to the adverse action; written statements signed or prepared by any witness or complainant to the event; and related correspondence between the practitioner and the provider or entity. The report must include situations in which employment, including employment through a 3rd party, or privileges have been revoked, suspended, limited or otherwise adversely affected by action of the health care practitioner while the health care practitioner was the subject of a proceeding regarding employment or a disciplinary proceeding, and it also must include situations where employment, including employment through a 3rd party, or privileges have been revoked, suspended, limited or otherwise adversely affected by act of the health care practitioner in return for the health care provider’s or health care entity’s terminating such proceeding. Any reversal, modification or change of action reported pursuant to this section must be reported immediately to the practitioner’s board or authority, together with a brief statement of the reasons for that reversal, modification or change. If the adverse action requiring a report as a result of a reversal, modification or change of action consists of the revocation, suspension or limitation of employment, including employment through a 3rd party, or clinical privileges of a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse by a health care provider or health care entity for reasons relating to clinical competence or unprofessional conduct and is taken pursuant to personnel or employment rules or policies, medical staff bylaws or other credentialing and privileging policies, whether or not the practitioner is employed by that health care provider or entity, then the provider or entity shall include in its initial report to the disciplined practitioner’s licensing board or authority the names of all patients whose care by the disciplined practitioner gave rise to the adverse action. The failure of any health care provider or health care entity to report as required is a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $5,000 may be adjudged.
Carriers providing managed care plans are subject to the reporting requirements of this section when they take adverse actions against a practitioner’s credentials or employment for reasons related to clinical competence or unprofessional conduct that may adversely affect the health or welfare of the patient.
§2508 Effect of filing.
The filing of a report with the board pursuant to this chapter, investigation by the board or any disposition by the board may not, in and of itself, preclude any action by a hospital or other health care facility or health care entity or professional society comprised primarily of physicians to suspend, restrict or revoke the privileges or membership of the physician
§2511 Immunity.
Any person acting without malice, physician, health care provider, health care entity or professional society, any member of a professional competence committee, professional review committee, any board or appropriate authority and any entity required to report under this chapter is immune from civil liability:
1. Reporting. For making any report or other information available to any board, appropriate authority, professional competence committee or professional review committee pursuant to law;
2. Assisting in preparation. For assisting in the origination, investigation or preparation of the report or information described in subsection 1; or
3. Assisting in duties. For assisting the board, authority or committee in carrying out any of its duties or functions provided by law.