Thune, Casey Introduce Legislation to Permanently Extend Liability Coverage to Health Professional Volunteers

Statement

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today introduced the Help Expand Liability Protections (HELP) for Volunteers Act. This bipartisan legislation would permanently extend the Public Health Service Act's health care professional liability coverage to health professional volunteers at Community Health Centers (CHCs).

"Community Health Centers provide crucial medical care to underserved areas throughout the country, especially in rural states like South Dakota where patients may travel long distances to receive care," said Thune. "Our bill would ensure that qualified health professionals are able to continue to donate their time and services to underserved areas without the financial burden of providing their own medical malpractice coverage."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how vital it is to invest in America's health care system," said Casey. "Community Health Centers provide accessible health care to vulnerable populations and in rural communities, and they need every tool possible to recruit providers and bolster services. This bill will permanently remove the barriers that many health care providers face when volunteering their time and services at Community Health Centers and strengthen the health care network overall."

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