((a)) ** Providing licensing boards and other health care entities with access to information** The Secretary (or the agency designated under ) shall, upon request, provide information reported under this subchapter with respect to a physician or other licensed health care practitioner to State licensing boards, to hospitals, and to other health care entities (including health maintenance organizations) that have entered (or may be entering) into an employment or affiliation relationship with the physician or practitioner or to which the physician or practitioner has applied for clinical privileges or appointment to the medical staff.section 11134(b) of this title

((b)) ** Confidentiality of information**

((1)) ** In general** Information reported under this subchapter is considered confidential and shall not be disclosed (other than to the physician or practitioner involved) except with respect to professional review activity, as necessary to carry out subsections (b) and (c) of (as specified in regulations by the Secretary), or in accordance with regulations of the Secretary promulgated pursuant to subsection (a). Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the disclosure of such information by a party which is otherwise authorized, under applicable State law, to make such disclosure. Information reported under this subchapter that is in a form that does not permit the identification of any particular health care entity, physician, other health care practitioner, or patient shall not be considered confidential. The Secretary (or the agency designated under ), on application by any person, shall prepare such information in such form and shall disclose such information in such form.section 11135 of this titlesection 11134(b) of this title

((2)) ** Penalty for violations** Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be subject to a civil money penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such violation involved. Such penalty shall be imposed and collected in the same manner as civil money penalties under subsection (a) of are imposed and collected under that section.section 1320a–7a of this title

((3)) ** Use of information** Subject to paragraph (1), information provided under and subsection (a) is intended to be used solely with respect to activities in the furtherance of the quality of health care.section 11135 of this title

((4)) ** Fees** The Secretary may establish or approve reasonable fees for the disclosure of information under this section or . The amount of such a fee may not exceed the costs of processing the requests for disclosure and of providing such information. Such fees shall be available to the Secretary (or, in the Secretary’s discretion, to the agency designated under ) to cover such costs.section 11136 of this titlesection 11134(b) of this title

((c)) ** Relief from liability for reporting** No person or entity (including the agency designated under ) shall be held liable in any civil action with respect to any report made under this subchapter (including information provided under subsection (a)  without knowledge of the falsity of the information contained in the report.section 11134(b) of this title1

((d)) ** Interpretation of information** In interpreting information reported under this subchapter, a payment in settlement of a medical malpractice action or claim shall not be construed as creating a presumption that medical malpractice has occurred.