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September 21, 2010 | Vol. XV  No. 2
Reinforcements on the Way: 
Providing FTCA Malpractice Insurance to Volunteer Practitioners
 

The House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 1745, The Family Health Care Accessibility Act, on Wednesday afternoon!  Call your representatives now and urge them to support this bill!
 
The Family Health Care Accessibility Act would extend Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) malpractice coverage to health care professionals who volunteer in Consolidated Health Centers, including Health Care for the Homeless grantees.  The bill originally extended this coverage only to physicians and clinical psychologists, but has since been amended to include all licensed providers. 
 
Many providers in all of our communities have expressed interest in volunteering at HCH projects, but have declined to do so because of the exorbitant cost of malpractice insurance.  FTCA coverage would address this barrier to volunteerism and improve access to both primary and specialty care for the patients you serve.  This is an opportunity to cost-effectively grow our workforce and improve access to care, especially at a time when HCH projects need to expand to meet growing need for services.
 

Some fast facts: 
 
  • In 2009, Health Care for the Homeless projects served over 800,000 clients, 91% of them under the poverty level, with 66% uninsured.
  • Health Centers serve approximately 20 million individuals and need to double by 2015 resulting in a need for over 15,000 additional physicians (volunteers could help!).
  • Accessing specialty care is more difficult for Health Center patients than for others, a problem that increased volunteerism could help to relieve.
  • The GAO found concerns over malpractice liability to be a significant or very significant barrier to volunteering at Health Centers.
  • FTCA coverage for paid Health Center staff saves $200 million annually at a cost of $20 million annually.  Adding volunteers would cost only $18 million over 5 years, which is nominal. 
TAKE ACTION
 
  • CALL your House member now (the vote is Wednesday afternoon)!  Find the phone number at www.house.gov or call the switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
  • TELL them it's important to SUPPORT H.R. 1745 to provide liability insurance for badly-needed volunteer providers in health centers.
  • FORWARD THIS to others, using the button below.
Dan Rabbitt, MSW | Health Policy Organizer
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
drabbitt@nhchc.org | 443/703-1337 | www.nhchc.org
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HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING ARE HUMAN RIGHTS