Arizona's lawmakers are pushing a bill that, if passed, will shield hundreds of actions taken against health professionals from public view. The contentious House Bill 2686, proposed by Rep. Selina Bliss, R-Prescott, mandates that non-disciplinary actions would no longer be transparent according to ABC15. These types of records have previously encompassed a range from minor paperwork discrepancies to serious patient care concerns and even arrests.
The governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs, seems likely to veto the bill if it passes in its current state. "Governor Hobbs believes we need more transparency, not less," a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office said in a statement obtained by ABC15. This move comes after a 2017 change in state law, spurred by ABC15 investigations, which required health boards to publish these non-disciplinary actions on their websites.
In contrast to House Bill 2686, another bill brought forth by Rep. Patti Contreras, D-Phoenix, seeks to increase transparency by mandating that health boards feature all actions on their public websites for a quarter century. Contreras told ABC15, "(It’s about) transparency, consumer protection. We want to make sure we’re all going to be safe when we go see any kind of medical professional." However, given the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, the future of Contreras' HB2312 is uncertain.
In related news, the Arizona State Legislature has approved House Bill 2118, a measure aimed at stopping medical impostors. This bill, hailed for boosting accountability and transparency, will proceed to Governor Doug Ducey for final approval. As reported by ABC15, the legislation was championed by Rep. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix after she was exposed to a documentary series, “Impostors,” produced by the station.
House Bill 2118 sets out strict actions for health boards, including verifying and retaining complaints of unlicensed practices, and publicly listing individuals found guilty of unauthorized practice. The bill, which faced no official opposition, also makes the unauthorized practice of health fields a class 5 felony. The ABC15 series "Impostors" available on streaming platforms, delves into the issue with investigative reporting that has convicted two impostors to date with a third facing charges.
