Nebraska News: Mandatory Reporting Is Mandatory!

February 1, 2009 1:48 pm Topics: Mandatory reporting

Published in the February 2009 Nebraska Board of Pharmacy Newsletter

One of the most common difficulties Nebraska pharmacy licentiates experience is related to 172 NAC 5, “Regulations Relating to Mandatory Reporting by Health Care Professionals, Facilities, Peer Review Organizations, Professional Associations, and Insurers.”

There are numerous occurrences that a pharmacist must report to the Department of Health and Human Services within 30 days, most of them related to allegations of negligence, incompetence, or impairment. These situations are described in Section 5-003.01, items 1 through 10. Most Nebraska pharmacists would probably remember to contact the department under such potentially serious circumstances. However, pharmacists and pharmacy students more regularly neglect to contact the department in a situation they may not believe is related to pharmacy practice. Item 10 of Section 5-003.01 states that health care professionals must report if “you have been convicted of any misdemeanor or felony in Nebraska or any other state, territory, or jurisdiction . . . ” Of course, this requirement includes the unhappy occurrence of a driving under the influence conviction or a minor in possession conviction. Failure to report is grounds, under the Uniform Credentialing Act, for action against a pharmacist or other professional’s license.

Pharmacists and registered interns are reminded that conviction of any misdemeanor or felony must be reported to the department within 30 days after the conviction.