What's New

• Coming in 2008
• Coming in June 2008
• March 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007

Implementation of Section 1921

It is anticipated that the final rules for Section 1921 of the Social Security Act will be published in the Federal Register in early 2008. Once published and implemented, Section 1921 will protect beneficiaries participating in the Social Security Act’s health care programs from unfit health care practitioners and entities and improve the anti-fraud provisions of these programs. Section 1921 will add adverse actions taken against other licensed health care practitioners and health care entities to the NPDB.

ITP and QRXS users will be provided with draft Interface Control Documents (ICDs) approximately three months prior to the implementation. The draft ICDs will be posted on the NPDB-HIPDB Web site and a notification e-mail will be sent to users once the documentation is available. If you would like e-mail notification when draft ICDs are available, sign up for the ITP Mailing List.

When the final rules for Section 1921 are published, the ICDs will be updated to reflect any changes based on the final rules. At this time the extent of changes is unclear, but it is anticipated that little change will result between the draft and final ICDs. The Data Banks will determine the effective date of the final ICDs after the publication of the final rule.

ITP Users Take Note!

On June 16, 2008, the NPDB-HIPDB will implement several improvements to the ITP submission and response file formats. To better prepare you for the upcoming changes, updated ITP specifications are now available.

IQRS Subject Database Importing

The XML Import Format specifications will be updated. The future specifications are now available.

QRXS Querying

The NPDB-HIPDB will accept querying via the QRXS beginning June 16, 2008. The QRXS is an alternative to querying using the IQRS and legacy ITP service. The QRXS interface is ideal for large volume queriers who wish to automate the query submission process and offers more features than the ITP. Read more about the QRXS.

QRXS Reporting

The QRXS specifications will be updated. The future specifications are now available.

Public Use Data File Updated

The NPDB Public Use Data File contains selected variables from medical malpractice payment and adverse licensure, clinical privileges, professional society membership, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports received by the NPDB concerning physicians, dentists, and other licensed health care professionals. This file has been updated to include disclosable reports received from September 1, 1990 through December 31, 2007.

QRXS Users Take Note!

The NPDB-HIPDB implemented several improvements to the QRXS client program as well as the submission and response file formats. The QRXS client program and QRXS specifications are available.

Updating PDS Enrollments

IQRS users can now update practitioner information in a PDS enrollment by selecting practitioners from their subject database. An enrollment confirmation will be provided for each subject updated using the subject database.

Sample Response Files

Sample Response Files are available to assist ITP and QRXS users in formatting Data Bank responses.

Electronic Report Change Notifications

When a report is modified (e.g., corrected by the entity or disputed by the subject), a paper copy of the changed report is sent to all entities that previously received the Initial Report (within a three-year time frame). Users may view the changed report electronically through the IQRS, and may also elect to receive notification of the changed report via e-mail.

To ensure that you will receive notifications from the Data Banks add the npdb-hipdb.hrsa.gov domain to your "Safe Senders List".

Updates Require an E-mail Address

All user accounts require an e-mail address.

IQRS Password Reset Service

Users are able to reset their Data Bank password without having to contact the Customer Service Center, if they have an e-mail address on file with the Data Banks and know their expired password. To reset their password, the user can log in to the IQRS and click Reset Password on the System Error screen. An e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address specified in the IQRS user account and will contain a link which the user must click to access the IQRS using their expired password. The user is then prompted to create a new password.

Public Use Data File Updated

The NPDB Public Use Data File contains selected variables from medical malpractice payment and adverse licensure, clinical privileges, professional society membership, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports received by the NPDB concerning physicians, dentists, and other licensed health care professionals. This file has been updated to include disclosable reports received from September 1, 1990 through September 30, 2007.

Data Bank Security Enhancements

The Data Banks implemented new enhancements designed to enhance entity and user account security.



• While logged in to the IQRS or Report Response Service (RRS), a user will be notified if someone else logs in using their account. This enhances user accountability by discouraging users from sharing login information. Multiple users, with a single user ID, are prohibited from accessing the IQRS and RRS simultaneously.
  
  
• The entity administrator account is now limited to administrative functions only. Administrators that submit queries and reports using the IQRS, QRXS, and ITP must create a separate user account, with a unique user ID.
  
  
• A new Log Out button appears on every IQRS and RRS screen. Users must click the Log Out button once they are finished using the IQRS or RRS.
  
  
• The Query, Report, Subject Database, and PDS input forms will time-out after two hours of inactivity. Users will be able to re-log in and continue their IQRS session so that transaction data entered to that point will not be lost.

ITP and QRXS Users Take Note!

ITP and QRXS users must update their itp.ini file to include a non-administrator user ID when submitting reports and queries. The entity administrator account will be limited to administrative functions only. Administrators that submit queries and reports using the IQRS, QRXS, and ITP must use the IQRS to create a separate user account, with a unique user ID.

QRXS and ITP Code List Updates

The QRXS and ITP code lists have been updated for the November 2007 system enhancements. Code list changes are detailed in the QRXS and ITP Specifications. A complete list of NPDB-HIPDB codes are available in PDF and CSV formats.

Entities Can Specify Response Routing for Agent-Submitted Transactions

The entity administrator may choose to have query and report output routed to the entity, the agent, or both. In addition, entities also have the ability to select how they receive query and report responses to their agent’s submissions. For example, if an agent submits a successful query using the ITP service, the entity can elect to receive the query response via the IQRS or the ITP.

Agents Can Terminate Entity/Agent Relationships

Agents can terminate an entity/agent relationship. Previously, only the entity could terminate the relationship. The agent administrator can deactivate the relationship on the Active Entity Relationships screen. Entities will be notified of the deactivation via Data Bank Correspondence.

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