NPDB Insights - August 2025

Is It Reportable?

A physician member of a hospital's medical staff has been repeatedly encouraged to enter a substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation program. The practitioner continues to disregard the hospital's advice and offers of assistance. If an authorized hospital official, such as the CEO or department chair, directs the practitioner to give up clinical privileges and enter a rehabilitation program or face investigation relating to possible professional incompetence or misconduct, and the physician surrenders his privileges, must the surrender of clinical privileges be reported to the NPDB?

Yes. If the authorized hospital official directs the physician to surrender his or her clinical privileges or face investigation by the hospital for possible professional incompetence or improper professional conduct, the surrender must be reported to the NPDB. The surrender of clinical privileges in return for not conducting an investigation triggers a report to the NPDB, regardless of the reason for the surrender.

Need Help with Identity Verification?

The NPDB uses ID.me to provide a method for users to safely and easily verify their identities and log into their accounts.

Do you have questions about identity verification for your NPDB account?

Answers to most questions about ID.me and identity verification can be found in ID.me's Using the National Practitioner Data Bank for Work Exit Image help page. ID.me also offers the following targeted step-by-step instructions:

• How to use ID.me for a Self-Query Exit Image
• How to use ID.me to view a report Exit Image
• How to reset your ID.me password Exit Image
• How to reset your Multifactor Authentication method Exit Image
• Sign in and account access troubleshooting Exit Image
• Video selfie troubleshooting Exit Image
• Rejected documents troubleshooting Exit Image
• Multiple ID.me accounts – ID.me Help Center Exit Image

The NPDB also provides many FAQs and instructions on our Identity Verification Help page. And we created a step-by-step video to walk you through the MFA and identity verification processes.

Dear NPDB

My organization needs to run a query on one of our practitioners. Can I submit a Self-Query on her?

No. Organizations may not submit Self-Queries for individuals, and individuals may only submit Self-Queries for themselves. Individual Self-Queries submitted for anyone other than the person submitting the Self-Query will be rejected, and the query fee will not be refunded.

If your organization needs a query response for one of your practitioners, you must submit a One-Time Query or enroll him or her in Continuous Query.

The NPDB recommends using Continuous Query for the best querying experience. For the same price as a One-Time Query, Continuous Query allows you to receive an initial query response and all new or updated report notifications during your practitioner's 1-year enrollment.

Querying the NPDB is only available to eligible entities who are registered with the NPDB. The ability of your organization to query, and the type of information you may receive through querying, is determined by federal law. Check here to see if your organization is authorized to query the NPDB.

Authorized entities typically query the NPDB for the following reasons:

• Privileging
• Employment
• Professional review activities
• Mandatory 2-year review of clinical privileges for medical staff membership (hospitals only)
• Licensing or certification
• Fraud and abuse investigation
• Certification to participate in a government program

For more information about querying the NPDB, visit Chapter D: Queries of the NPDB Guidebook.