Which statement about the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is NOT true?

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is designed to protect the confidentiality of certain reports, which is why the information contained within the database is not available to the public. Access to reports is limited and typically restricted to entities involved in the credentialing and licensing processes or those responsible for healthcare organization governance, such as hospitals, state licensing boards, and certain educational institutions. This confidentiality serves to encourage honest reporting and ensure that practitioners are held accountable for any malpractice or professional misconduct without compromising patient and practitioner privacy.

In contrast, the other statements about the NPDB accurately reflect its operations. It is indeed governed by regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services, which outlines how information is managed and who has access to it. Additionally, the NPDB plays a crucial role in tracking practitioners’ professional competency by collecting reports related to adverse actions taken against health care providers, such as malpractice payments or disciplinary actions taken by licensing boards.