M.S.A. §147.111

Reporting Obligations

Minnesota has a permissive reporting law with regard to violation of Medical Board disciplinary rules.  A person with knowledge of an action that may constitute grounds for discipline of a physician may report the violation to the Medical Board.  However, a hospital, clinic, prepaid health plan, or any other health care institution or entity in the state is required to report to the Board any action taken by the institution to revoke, suspend, or restrict a physician’s privilege to practice or treat patients in that institution.  The organization is also required to report if a physician resigns before the conclusion of a disciplinary proceeding or before formal charges are brought if the physician had knowledge of his or her wrongdoing.  All reports must provide details of the reasons for the disciplinary action.

All state or local medical societies must also report to the Board any termination, revocation or suspension of membership or any disciplinary action taken against a physician. 

All licensed physicians or residents must report to the Board any conduct that is reasonably believed to be grounds for disciplinary action by any physician or resident. 

Insurers that provide malpractice insurance to physicians are required to report to the Board quarterly, a report that details malpractice settlements or awards made against the insured physicians.  The reporting requirement is extended to hospitals or clinics that provide malpractice insurance to their physicians.  The reports must include the following:

1. Total number of settlements or awards made against the physician;
2. Dates of settlements or awards;
3. Allegations of the claims;
4. Total dollar amount;
5. Name and address of the physician against whom the claim was made.

A court is also required to submit a report to the Board if it determines that a physician is mentally ill, mentally incompetent, guilty of a felony, guilty of a narcotics law violation, or guilty of an abuse of Medicare or Medicaid laws. 

The law also provides that a physician may self report any conduct that would have to be reported to the Board by any of the above named entities.