Section 214.23 Monitoring
214.23 MONITORING.
Subdivision 1.Commissioner of health.
The board shall enter into a contract with the commissioner to perform the functions in subdivisions 2 and 3. The contract shall provide that:
(1) unless requested to do otherwise by a regulated person, a board shall refer all regulated persons infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV to the commissioner;
(2) the commissioner may choose to refer any regulated person who is infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV as well as all information related thereto to the person's board at any time for any reason, including but not limited to: the degree of cooperation and compliance by the regulated person; the inability to secure information or the medical records of the regulated person; or when the facts may present other possible violations of the regulated persons practices act. Upon request of the regulated person who is infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV the commissioner shall refer the regulated person and all information related thereto to the person's board. Once the commissioner has referred a regulated person to a board, the board may not thereafter submit it to the commissioner to establish a monitoring plan unless the commissioner of health consents in writing;
(3) a board shall not take action on grounds relating solely to the HIV, HBV, or HCV status of a regulated person until after referral by the commissioner; and
(4) notwithstanding sections 13.39 and 13.41 and chapters 147, 147A, 148, 150A, 153, and 214, a board shall forward to the commissioner any information on a regulated person who is infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV that the Department of Health requests.
Subd. 2.Monitoring plan.
After receiving a report that a regulated person is infected with HIV, HBV, or HCV, the board or the commissioner acting on behalf of the board shall evaluate the past and current professional practice of the regulated person to determine whether there has been a violation under section 214.20. After evaluation of the regulated person's past and current professional practice, the board or the commissioner, acting on behalf of the board, shall establish a monitoring plan for the regulated person. The monitoring plan may:
(1) address the scope of a regulated person's professional practice when the board or the commissioner, acting on behalf of the board, determines that the practice constitutes an identifiable risk of transmission of HIV, HBV, or HCV from the regulated person to the patient;
(2) include the submission of regular reports at a frequency determined by the board or the commissioner, acting on behalf of the board, regarding the regulated person's health status; and
(3) include any other provisions deemed reasonable by the board or the commissioner of health, acting on behalf of the board.
The board or commissioner, acting on behalf of the board, may enter into agreements with qualified persons to perform monitoring on its behalf. The regulated person shall comply with any monitoring plan established under this subdivision.
Subd. 3.Expert review panel.
The board or the commissioner acting on behalf of the board may appoint an expert review panel to assist in the performance of the responsibilities under this section. In consultations with the expert review panel, the commissioner or board shall, to the extent possible, protect the identity of the regulated person. When an expert review panel is appointed, it must contain at least one member appointed by the commissioner and one professional member appointed by the board. The panel shall provide expert assistance to the board, or to the commissioner acting on behalf of the board, in the subjects of infectious diseases, epidemiology, practice techniques used by regulated persons, and other subjects determined by the board or by the commissioner acting on behalf of the board. Members of the expert review panel are subject to those provisions of chapter 13 that restrict the commissioner or the board under Laws 1992, chapter 559, article 1.
Subd. 4.Immunity.
Members of the board or the commissioner acting on behalf of the board, and persons who participate on an expert review panel or who assist the board or the commissioner in monitoring the practice of a regulated person, are immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution for any actions, transactions, or publications made in good faith and in execution of, or relating to, their duties under sections 214.17 to 214.24, except that no immunity shall be available for persons who have knowingly violated any provision of chapter 13.
History:
1992 c 559 art 1 s 15; 1995 c 205 art 2 s 7; 2000 c 422 s 24,25