42 U.S.C. § 11111 | Professional review

(a)

In general

(1)

Limitation on damages for professional review actions

section 11151(9) of this title section 11112(a) of this titleIf a professional review action (as defined in ) of a professional review body meets all the standards specified in , except as provided in subsection (b)—

(A)

the professional review body,

(B)

any person acting as a member or staff to the body,

(C)

any person under a contract or other formal agreement with the body, and

(D)

any person who participates with or assists the body with respect to the action,

42 U.S.C. 2000e 42 U.S.C. 1981 section 15c of title 15shall not be liable in damages under any law of the United States or of any State (or political subdivision thereof) with respect to the action. The preceding sentence shall not apply to damages under any law of the United States or any State relating to the civil rights of any person or persons, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, , et seq. and the Civil Rights Acts, , et seq. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the United States or any Attorney General of a State from bringing an action, including an action under , where such an action is otherwise authorized.

(2)

Protection for those providing information to professional review bodies

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person (whether as a witness or otherwise) providing information to a professional review body regarding the competence or professional conduct of a physician shall be held, by reason of having provided such information, to be liable in damages under any law of the United States or of any State (or political subdivision thereof) unless such information is false and the person providing it knew that such information was false.

(b)

Exception

section 11133(a) of this title section 11133(a) of this titleIf the Secretary has reason to believe that a health care entity has failed to report information in accordance with , the Secretary shall conduct an investigation. If, after providing notice of noncompliance, an opportunity to correct the noncompliance, and an opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary determines that a health care entity has failed substantially to report information in accordance with , the Secretary shall publish the name of the entity in the Federal Register. The protections of subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to an entity the name of which is published in the Federal Register under the previous sentence with respect to professional review actions of the entity commenced during the 3-year period beginning 30 days after the date of publication of the name.

(c)

Treatment under State laws

(1)

October 14, 1989 Professional review actions taken on or after

October 14, 1989Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (a) shall apply to State laws in a State only for professional review actions commenced on or after .

(2)

Exceptions

(A)

State early opt-in

October 14, 1989Subsection (a) shall apply to State laws in a State for actions commenced before , if the State by legislation elects such treatment.

(B)

Effective date of election

1 So in original. Probably should be “for purposes of subparagraph (A),”.

An election under State law is not effective, for purposes of, for actions commenced before the effective date of the State law, which may not be earlier than the date of the enactment of that law.

Pub. L. 99–660, title IV, § 411Nov. 14, 1986100 Stat. 3784 Pub. L. 100–177, title IV, § 402(c)Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(e)(6)(A)Dec. 19, 1989103 Stat. 2208(, , ; , as added , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 88–352July 2, 196478 Stat. 241 section 2000a of this titleThe Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is , , , which is classified principally to subchapters II to IX (§ 2000a et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. Title VII of this Act relates to equal employment opportunities, and is classified generally to subchapter VI (§ 2000e et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

The Civil Rights Acts, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), are classified generally to chapter 21 (§ 1981 et seq.) of this title.

Amendments

Pub. L. 100–177, § 402(c)Pub. L. 101–239October 14, 19891987—Subsec. (c)(2)(B), (C). , as added by , redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), struck out “subparagraphs (A) and (B)” after “for purposes of”, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to State laws in a State for actions commenced on or after , if the State by legislation elects such treatment.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–177Nov. 14, 1986section 402(d) of Pub. L. 100–177 section 11137 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , as renumbered and amended, set out as a note under .

Effective Date

Pub. L. 99–660, title IV, § 416Nov. 14, 1986100 Stat. 3788

Pub. L. 99–660Nov. 14, 1986“This part [part A (§§ 411–416) of title IV of , enacting this subchapter] shall apply to professional review actions commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”

, , , provided that: