Bill > SB2413

This bill clarifies protections for information shared during quality improvement committee (QIC) activities within healthcare settings in Tennessee. Specifically, it defines an "adverse healthcare incident" as a patient death or injury resulting from patient care and an "open discussion" as communications related to QIC activities that are prepared for or made in connection with these discussions, excluding materials already subject to discovery. The bill states that a healthcare provider or organization making a good faith disclosure of QIC-related information to a patient or their family during an open discussion does not waive the confidentiality and privilege protections afforded to QIC proceedings. Furthermore, healthcare providers are not required to disclose QIC findings in legal or administrative proceedings, and these outcomes generally remain confidential unless state or federal law mandates disclosure, which in itself would not waive the privilege. The bill also allows healthcare providers to voluntarily engage in open discussions with patients or their families following an adverse healthcare incident to address the issue and propose resolutions, with such communications being privileged, confidential, and protected from discovery, provided the patient or their representative signs a written acknowledgment beforehand and the discussion is conducted in good faith.