HHS proposes confidential medical error reporting

HHS has proposed a plan to allow hospitals and other providers to confidentially report patient safety breaches to HHS intermediaries. The proposed rule, which was required by the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, would set up HHS-approved Patient Safety Organizations, including both public and not-for-profit groups. Under the rule, hospitals and other providers would be able to voluntarily report these errors without subjecting themselves to new civil liability. The system would be administered by the HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, while the Office for Civil Rights would enforce related rules. Drawing on the voluntary reports, AHRQ will add national and regional statistics on patient safety to its National Healthcare Quality Report.

To learn more about HHS's plans:
- read this Healthcare Finance News piece

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