Due Process

Court Rules on Notice Under HCQIA for Staff Privilege Revocation

The Georgia state Supreme Court ruled March 6 that the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) does not require that doctors receive "formal and precise" reasons before revocation of staff privileges, nor does it limit the number and scope of reasons given by a hospital. Unfortunately, the decision reverses a lower state Court of Appeals decision. The lower court previously held that the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc., was not shielded by HCQIA immunity when it revoked James A. Davenport's medical staff privileges, because it was unclear whether Davenport was given adequate notice of the reasons for the revocation.

Source: Northeast George Medical Center Inc. v. Davenport; GA., No. S99G1082, March 6, 2000