65-4924. Reports relating to impaired providers; procedures. (a) If a report to a state licensing agency pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (2) of K.S.A. 65-4923 or any other report or complaint filed with such agency relates to a health care provider's inability to practice the provider's profession with reasonable skill and safety due to physical or mental disabilities, including deterioration through the aging process, loss of motor skill or abuse of drugs or alcohol, the agency may refer the matter to an impaired provider committee of the appropriate state or county professional society or organization.

(b) The state licensing agency shall have the authority to enter into an agreement with the impaired provider committee of the appropriate state or county professional society or organization to undertake those functions and responsibilities specified in the agreement and to provide for payment therefor from moneys appropriated to the agency for that purpose. Such functions and responsibilities may include any or all of the following:

(1) Contracting with providers of treatment programs;

(2) receiving and evaluating reports of suspected impairment from any source;

(3) intervening in cases of verified impairment;

(4) referring impaired providers to treatment programs;

(5) monitoring the treatment and rehabilitation of impaired health care providers;

(6) providing posttreatment monitoring and support of rehabilitated impaired health care providers; and

(7) performing such other activities as agreed upon by the licensing agency and the impaired provider committee.

(c) The impaired provider committee shall develop procedures in consultation with the licensing agency for:

(1) Periodic reporting of statistical information regarding impaired provider program activity;

(2) periodic disclosure and joint review of such information as the licensing agency considers appropriate regarding reports received, contacts or investigations made and the disposition of each report;

(3) immediate reporting to the licensing agency of the name and results of any contact or investigation regarding any impaired provider who is believed to constitute an imminent danger to the public or to self;

(4) reporting to the licensing agency, in a timely fashion, any impaired provider who refuses to cooperate with the committee or refuses to submit to treatment, or whose impairment is not substantially alleviated through treatment, and who in the opinion of the committee exhibits professional incompetence; and

(5) informing each participant of the impaired provider committee of the procedures, the responsibilities of participants and the possible consequences of noncompliance.

(d) If the licensing agency has reasonable cause to believe that a health care provider is impaired, the licensing agency may cause an evaluation of such health care provider to be conducted by the impaired provider committee or its designee for the purpose of determining if there is an impairment. The impaired provider committee or its designee shall report the findings of its evaluation to the licensing agency.

(e) An impaired health care provider may submit a written request to the licensing agency for a restriction of the provider's license. The agency may grant such request for restriction and shall have authority to attach conditions to the licensure of the provider to practice within specified limitations. Removal of a voluntary restriction on licensure to practice shall be subject to the statutory procedure for reinstatement of license.

(f) A report to the impaired provider committee shall be deemed to be a report to the licensing agency for the purposes of any mandated reporting of provider impairment otherwise provided for by the law of this state.

(g) An impaired provider who is participating in, or has successfully completed, a treatment program pursuant to this section shall not be excluded from any medical care facility staff solely because of such participation. However, the medical care facility may consider any impairment in determining the extent of privileges granted to a health care provider.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a state or county professional society or organization and the members thereof shall not be liable to any person for any acts, omissions or recommendations made in good faith while acting within the scope of the responsibilities imposed pursuant to this section.

History: L. 1986, ch. 229, § 5; July 1.