HF3978

Purpose

• Create and govern a physician health care provider wellness program designed to help physicians address career fatigue and work-related stress. The program is run by a statewide association that primarily represents physicians and osteopaths from multiple specialties.

Main Provisions

• Definitions

  • Health care provider: an individual licensed or registered to provide health care services in Minnesota within their scope of practice.
  • Physician health care provider wellness program: a program offering evaluation, counseling, or other services to address career fatigue or work-stress wellness for physicians licensed under chapter 147, administered by a statewide association tax-exempt under 501(c)(6).
  • Note: The wellness program does not include services intended to monitor for impairment under another statute (section 214.31).

• Confidentiality

  • Participation records are confidential and cannot be disclosed through discovery, subpoenas, or to health-related licensing boards or the commissioner of health unless the participant voluntarily releases information or disclosure is required to meet reporting obligations under law (per section 147.111).

• Civil liability immunity

  • Any person, agency, institution, facility, or organization contracted with or operating the wellness program is immune from civil liability for actions related to duties in connection with the program, as long as they act in good faith.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 214.41 to create a formal physician health care provider wellness program with defined confidentiality protections and immunity from civil liability for good-faith activities related to the program.
• Explicitly separates the wellness program from impairment monitoring obligations, maintaining that impairment monitoring remains governed by section 214.31.

Practical Impact

• Encourages physician participation in a confidential wellness program without fear of automatic disclosure or broad civil liability, provided actions are in good faith.
• Establishes a clear, Privacy-focused framework for evaluating and assisting physicians with work-related stress and fatigue, while maintaining separation from impairment monitoring processes.

Notable Relationships to Existing Law

• The wellness program is tied to a statewide association, tax-exempt under 501(c)(6), and targets physicians licensed under chapter 147.
• It explicitly excludes activities that would function as impairment monitoring under section 214.31.

Relevant Terms - physician health care provider wellness program - health care provider - physician - career fatigue - work stress - confidentiality - discovery - subpoena - health-related licensing board - commissioner of health - section 147.111 - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 214.41 - impairment monitoring - section 214.31 - 501(c)(6) - good faith - civil liability immunity - statewide association - physicians licensed under chapter 147