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Who is obligated to report to HPRP?
Because of the impact on public health and safety, impaired health care practice (or the potential for impaired practice) is a violation of the Public Health Code and could result in regulatory action.
There are some circumstances where one is obligated to report an individual directly to the Department of Community Health, Bureau of Health Professions whereas in other cases a report to HPRP satisfies the obligation to report. See below.
Health Care Professionals
Under Section 333.16223 of the Michigan Public Health Code, licensed/ registered health professionals are required to make good faith reports of suspected violations of the Code to the Department of Community Health, Bureau of Health Professions. “A licensee or registrant who has reasonable cause to believe that a licensee, registrant or applicant is impaired shall report that fact to the department (DCH-BHP). For the purposes of this subsection, a report filed with the committee (Health Professional Recovery Committee) or with the program consultants (HPRP) described in section 16168 is considered to be filed with the department”. If you suspect impairment, please call the HPRP at: 1-800-453-3784
There are exemptions which include:
- Licensees involved in a bona fide provider-patient relationship
- Information obtained during an ethics or peer review function, whether for a professional association or in a health facility or agency.
Health Care Facilities
Section 333.20175 of the Michigan Public Health Code, as amended, requires health care facilities to report to DCH, Bureau of Health Professions any disciplinary action taken by the health facility or agency against a health professional licensed or registered under Article 15 which is based on competence or a disciplinary action which results in a change in employment status or which adversely affects clinical privileges for more than 15 days. This report must be made not more than 30 days after the action occurs. These facilities are also required to report the disciplinary action or other action to other health facilities, which are seeking employment referrals for the license/registered health professional.
This reporting requirement applies to actions taken due to impairment as defined by the Michigan Public Health Code. As appropriate, DCH will forward the names of the health care professionals received under this reporting requirement to the HPRP
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