AK HB371

Allows review organizations to publish reports containing aggregate data on trends, patterns, risk factors, death rates and causes, and intervention or prevention methods, provided the reports comply with federal and state confidentiality laws.

Simplifies the definition of "health care provider" to mean any person licensed, certified, or otherwise permitted by law to provide health care services, removing the previous detailed enumeration of specific licensed professions and including hospitals and their employees.

Changes oversight of public health review committees from requiring State Medical Board approval to requiring approval by the chief medical officer in the Department of Health, while removing the requirement that 75 percent of committee members be health care providers.

Expands the definition of "review organization" to include nationally recognized groups or entities that accredit health care organizations, such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Maintains confidentiality protections for review organization proceedings and records while clarifying that information available from original sources remains discoverable in civil actions.