Licensed physicians may visit a facility required to be licensed under the provisions of sections 144.50 to 144.58, or 144A.02, and examine patients and residents thereof under a program which shall be established by the state commissioner of health and regulated and governed by rules promulgated by the state commissioner of health pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. The rules shall protect the privacy of patients and residents of facilities. No patient or resident of any facility shall be required to submit to an examination under the program. The state commissioner of health shall consult with medical schools and other experts for the purpose of establishing the program. The state commissioner of health shall encourage the active participation of all licensed physicians on a voluntary basis in the program.