Bill Overview
Title: To amend title II of the Public Health Services to provide clarity with respect to coverage of claims against health care practitioners providing health professional volunteer services at community health centers during declared emergencies.
Description: This bill extends certain liability protections available for health care practitioners who provide voluntary health care services in declared emergencies through a community health center other than the one that initially sponsored them. Current law makes the liability protections available to volunteer practitioners that are sponsored by a particular community health center. This bill maintains the liability protections for a volunteer practitioner who provides services through a different community health center if the center (1) seeks the assistance of the volunteer practitioner to respond to a declared emergency, and (2) promptly notifies the Department of Health and Human Services that the volunteer practitioner will be providing services.
Sponsors: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Target Audience
Population: People receiving care during declared emergencies through volunteer health practitioners
Estimated Size: 30000000
- Health care practitioners providing volunteer services will be directly impacted because the bill offers them liability protection.
- Patients receiving care during declared emergencies at community health centers may experience an increase in the availability and accessibility of volunteer health care professionals, enhancing their access to care.
- Community health centers may be impacted due to an increase in the ability to attract volunteer practitioners during emergencies.
- The general public could benefit indirectly as improved responses during health emergencies can enhance community health outcomes.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes health care practitioners providing volunteer services during declared emergencies, patients receiving care at community health centers during these emergencies, and the community health centers themselves.
- The policy will directly impact volunteer health care practitioners by providing them with liability protection, encouraging more practitioners to volunteer.
- Patients in underserved areas may have improved access to health care during emergencies, indirectly benefiting from the policy's effect.
- Community health centers will likely be able to attract and retain more volunteer practitioners, enhancing their ability to respond to emergencies.
Simulated Interviews
Volunteer Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The liability protection makes me feel more secure and willing to volunteer in emergencies.
- I have often hesitated to volunteer at different centers because of liability concerns.
- I believe this policy will help us respond more effectively during crises.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Community Health Center Administrator (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more volunteer practitioners available during emergencies significantly improves our response capability.
- This policy will allow us to feel more confident in recruiting volunteers without the fear of legal repercussions impacting us or them.
- It should be a standard practice for emergency care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Volunteer EMT (Oakland, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a newcomer to volunteering, liability protection removes a barrier for me to participate more.
- This policy encourages me to switch between centers as needed without feeling legally vulnerable.
- I hope more coverage like this extends to other volunteering aspects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Public Health Advisor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill is a positive step towards integrating volunteer services into emergency response.
- Liability protection is a decade’s overdue solution for cross-center volunteering.
- I'd recommend even broader policies to cover more areas of volunteer health care work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Physician, occasional volunteer (Rural Alabama)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation directly impacts my willingness to continue volunteering post-retirement.
- The reduction in fear of legal liability is crucial for retired professionals like me who want to help.
- I hope to see more volunteers coming back into the field because of this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Clinic Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill boosts our confidence in involving volunteer practitioners.
- Notifying the Department of Health and Human Services introduces some red tape, but it's manageable for the benefits it offers.
- Patients will certainly benefit from increased access to care during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public Health Advocate (Miami, FL)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always advocated for more protections like this for voluntary health practitioners.
- The policy should attract more practitioners to volunteer, especially from diverse backgrounds.
- I'm hopeful this will only be the start of more supportive measures for volunteers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Emergency Response Coordinator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrating volunteer practitioners legally helps streamline our operations during a crisis.
- The ability to assign practitioners across centers without legal fears is vital.
- Such policies enhance our overall emergency response framework.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Health Policy Analyst (Seattle, WA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new bill fills a previous gap in liability protections for volunteer work.
- I've conducted research demonstrating the need for such policies, so I'm in full support.
- More legal protection generally encourages more participation in crucial voluntary services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Medical Student (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing there are protections makes me more eager to participate in emergency health care settings.
- I plan to often volunteer once I start practicing and look for policies that support this.
- Grateful that such proactive steps are being made for future practitioners like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5100000 (Low: $4100000, High: $6100000)
Year 3: $5200000 (Low: $4200000, High: $6200000)
Year 5: $5300000 (Low: $4300000, High: $6300000)
Year 10: $5500000 (Low: $4500000, High: $6500000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $6500000, High: $8500000)
Key Considerations
- Extent of increased liability protection for volunteer practitioners and potential for unintended legal interpretations.
- Ensuring the consistent application of the policy across various community health centers and emergency scenarios.
- Assessing the administrative burden on both community health centers and the Department of Health and Human Services.