What Federal Practitioners Need to Know About the National Practitioner Data Bank.

Background The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is a federal online repository of reports containing information on medical malpractice payments and certain adverse actions related to health care practitioners, providers, and suppliers. Observations Not only can health care entities, including federal health care programs, request information from the NPDB about federal practitioners, these entities in certain circumstances can submit reports concerning their adverse actions and malpractice payments to the NPDB. Federal practitioners can appeal these reports through a formal process with the NPDB. Conclusions The NPDB regulations specifically affecting federal practitioners may be different from those of health care practitioners in the private sector.