Frequently Asked Questions for Healthcare Professionals
What is the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act?
The Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act was originally passed in 2007 and only applied to physicians. The Act required physicians to complete online questionnaires or “profiles”. The intent behind this law was for the consumers in Colorado to have access to information about their physicians so they could make more informed healthcare decisions.
In 2010, the Colorado legislature passed the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act of 2010. This expanded the profiling requirement to include 22 additional license types.
What is the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program?
The Healthcare Professions Profiling Program or HPPP was created to monitor the profiling requirement in Colorado. HPPP acts under the direction of the Director of the Division of Registrations. The Director holds the decision making authority for this requirement. The information provided in profiles is submitted by the individual licensee, but the HPPP staff monitors whether all information is provided, processes complaints about inaccurate information and issues administrative fines to individuals found to be noncompliant with the requirement.
Who has to complete a Healthcare Profession Profile?
Most healthcare professions regulated by the Division of Registrations with active licenses or registrations are required to complete profiles. This includes doctors, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, acupuncturists, dental hygienists, registered nurses, and optometrists. For a complete list visit www.dora.state.co.us/hppp.
When do I need to update my Healthcare Profession Profile?
Your profile must be updated within 30 days of the effective date of any reportable action, unless your profession's statute has a separate reporting requirement. Information regarding employers, employment contracts and business ownership interests, must be updated annually. To review the Program policies, visit www.dora.state.co.us/hppp/lawsrulespolicies.
What if I do not timely update my Healthcare Professions Profile as required by law?
The Director of the Colorado Division of Registrations ("Director") may impose a non-disciplinary administrative fine not to exceed $5000. The Director must notify the appropriate Board when an administrative fine is imposed and the Board may also pursue disciplinary action against your license if warranted. Payment of an administrative fine does not exempt an individual from complying with the requirements of the Act.
Is my address of record available to the public?
Consistent with Colorado law, your address and phone number of record with the Division of Registrations are public information and will appear on your Healthcare Profession Profile. If you select a home address for your address of record, only the city, state, and zip code are viewable however if an inquiry is received the address of record will be provided. In most cases, it is permissible for an individual to provide an address of record other than a residence, such as a post office box or a practice location. Please be advised that all correspondence, including renewal notices, licenses, and other legal documents, will be mailed to the address provided. If your address is not current, it is possible you will not receive important documents. To update your address online, please visit Registrations Online Services
Can the Healthcare Profession Profile be used for credentialing purposes?
No. The information in Healthcare Profession Profiles is not primary source data, meaning it is data provided by the individual licensee. The information is not verified by the Division and should not be used for credentialing purposes.
I have been healthcare professional for many years, do I need to list every hospital and health care facility affiliation I have ever had?
No. You are only required to list current and active affiliations.
I recently signed a disciplinary action with the Colorado Board. Do I need to send the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program a copy of the Order?
Yes. Even though the board who took the action supplies the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program with the document, each individual is responsible for ensuring the information in their profile is reflected correctly and that the Program has a copy of the documentation.
I recently signed a disciplinary action with the Colorado Board. Do I need to update my profile or does someone do that for me?
Yes. The information provided in each Profile is provided by the individual licensee or applicant. It is your responsibility to ensure the information contained in the Profile is accurate and up-to-date.
I am licensed in many different states. If I sign a disciplinary action or a restriction/suspension with another state, do I have to update my profile and provide the documents to the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program?
Yes. Any time there is a change to the information in your profile, you are required do update the information within the timeframe outlined in the Act. You must also notify your Board or Program of the action. A copy of the final action must be provided to the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program because it must be available for viewing on your profile.
I perform locum tenens work. Do I need to report all my affiliations and employment contracts?
Yes. All current affiliations must be reported. Every contract, regardless of the length of time, which has an annual value of greater than $5000, or where you receive greater than $5000 must be reported.
I am not sure how much I made from my employment or independent contracts last year. When do I have to update the information?
The statute requires the information be updated within a year of a change in the information. It is acceptable for an individual to update the employment contracts after they receive their tax information. This should happen in February every year.
I have a restraining order against someone and am concerned they will have information about my employer, where I practice and my home address. What should I do?
By law you are still required to report this information to the Healthcare Professions Profiling Program. In addition, the Colorado Address Confidentiality Program may be of assistance. There are certain requirements for eligibility. For more information, please visit their web site at www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/ACP/ACPHome.html.
Why did the profile take me back to the home page when I selected "Done"? I was only done with that screen, and my information was not saved.
The "Previous" and "Next" buttons will move you through the profile page by page. They will also save your submitted information. Selecting "Done" will not save your changes and will only take you back to the Profile Summary. If you are only updating one question, update the information, select "Save" and then select "Done" to go back to the Profile Summary. You will then need to attest to the changes and submit the profile.
I have an inactive license. Do I need to complete a Healthcare Profession Profile?
No. Only licenses in active and retired statuses must have profiles completed.
I have more than one active license. Do I need to complete a profile for every license?
Yes. The law states that every active license must have a corresponding profile.
Who do I contact if I need assistance or have questions relating to the Healthcare Profession Profile?
To contact the Healthcare Professions Profile Program, click here for email or by phone at (303) 894-5942.
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