Which entity is listed as a possible NPDB query source at the federal level (general reference)?

Which entity is listed as a possible NPDB query source at the federal level (general reference)?

• A. U.S. Comptroller General
• B. U.S. Secretary of Education
• C. U.S. Trade Representative
• D. U.S. Inspector General

Answer: (A)

In the federal context, the NPDB recognizes entities with authority to access or query information about practitioner conduct. The general reference for federal query sources names the U.S. Comptroller General—the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—as a permissible federal query source. This reflects GAO’s role in oversight and investigative work across the federal government, making it appropriate for NPDB queries. The other options aren’t listed as federal query sources in that general reference. Secretariat-level offices like the Secretary of Education or the Trade Representative aren’t listed there, and while Inspector General offices exist in many agencies, the standard federal reference highlights the Comptroller General as the listed source.

In the federal context, the NPDB recognizes entities with authority to access or query information about practitioner conduct. The general reference for federal query sources names the U.S. Comptroller General—the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—as a permissible federal query source. This reflects GAO’s role in oversight and investigative work across the federal government, making it appropriate for NPDB queries.

The other options aren’t listed as federal query sources in that general reference. Secretariat-level offices like the Secretary of Education or the Trade Representative aren’t listed there, and while Inspector General offices exist in many agencies, the standard federal reference highlights the Comptroller General as the listed source.