00HOUSE BILL NO. 497                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to chiropractic peer review; and providing for an effective date."                                     
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 08.20.185(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
04  (a)  In addition to peer review authorized under AS 08.01.075, the board may                                          
05 establish a peer review committee to review complaints concerning the reasonableness                                    
06 or appropriateness of care provided, fees charged, or costs for services rendered by a                                  
07 licensee to a patient.  A review conducted by a peer review committee under this                                        
08 section may be utilized by the board in considering disciplinary action against a                                       
09 licensee but the results or recommendations of a peer review committee are not                                          
10 binding upon the board.  A member of a peer review committee established under                                         
11 this section [CHIROPRACTOR] who in good faith submits a report under this section                                      
12 or participates in an investigation or judicial proceeding related to a report submitted                                
13 under this section is immune from civil liability for the submission or participation.                                  
14    * Sec. 2.  AS 08.20.185 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                               

01  (c)  Patient records presented to a peer review committee for review under this                                       
02 section that were confidential before their presentation to the committee are                                           
03 confidential to the committee members and to the board members and are not subject                                      
04 to inspection or copying under AS 09.25.110 - 09.25.125.  A committee member or                                         
05 board member to whom confidential records are presented under this subsection shall                                     
06 maintain the confidentiality of the records.  A person who violates this subsection is                                  
07 guilty of a class B misdemeanor.                                                                                        
08    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).