Physician and Patient Safety Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue regulations ensuring due process rights for physicians, specifically guaranteeing a fair hearing and appellate review before any termination, restriction, or reduction of their professional activity or staff privileges at a hospital. These regulations will prevent the denial of such rights through third-party contracts and prohibit requiring physicians to waive these protections as a condition of employment. Furthermore, the bill mandates that these proceedings remain confidential and generally not reportable to entities like the National Practitioner Data Bank or future employers, with exceptions for ongoing patient safety threats or existing NPDB reporting requirements. The final regulations are to be implemented within 18 months of the Act's enactment.