60.14—Fees applicable to requests for information.
(a) Policy on fees.
The fees described in this section apply to all requests for information from the NPDB. The amount of such fees will be sufficient to cover the full costs of operating the NPDB. The actual fees will be announced by the Secretary in periodic notices in the Federal Register. However, for purposes of verification and dispute resolution at the time the report is accepted, the NPDB will provide a copy—at the time a report has been submitted, automatically, without a request and free of charge—of the record to the health care practitioner or entity who is the subject of the report and to the reporter.
(b) Criteria for determining the fee.
The amount of each fee will be determined based on the following criteria:
(1)
Direct and indirect personnel costs, including salaries and fringe benefits such as medical insurance and retirement;
(2)
Physical overhead, consulting, and other indirect costs including materials and supplies, utilities, insurance, travel and rent and depreciation on land, buildings and equipment;
(5)
Use of electronic data processing equipment to collect and maintain information—the actual cost of the service, including computer search time, runs and printouts; and
(c) Assessing and collecting fees.
The Secretary will announce through notice in the Federal Register from time to time the methods of payment of NPDB fees. In determining these methods, the Secretary will consider efficiency, effectiveness, and convenience for the NPDB users and the Department. Methods may include: Credit card, electronic fund transfer, and other methods of electronic payment.