DE SB275

Requires the Delaware Board of Medical Practice to obtain service letters from health care facilities before issuing or renewing physician certificates, covering all facilities where the applicant currently has or previously had direct access to patients or admitting/staff privileges within the past five years.

Service letters must be signed by a responsible physician at the facility and include information about the scope of practice, duration of relationship, and any reasonably substantiated incidents of violence, threats, abuse, or neglect by the applicant, along with any resulting disciplinary action.

Applicants who have not previously had direct access to patients or were self-employed must provide letters of reference from 2 physicians who are not relatives instead of facility service letters.

Applicants must sign a statement attesting to full and complete disclosure of all current and previous health care facility relationships; failure to disclose is subject to a $5,000 civil penalty and willful failure results in denial of certification.

Health care facilities must provide requested service letters within 10 business days and face a $10,000 civil penalty per violation for failing to make full disclosure; facilities providing information are granted immunity from civil liability including libel and slander claims.