By: Anne Morris
Just before Congress began its two-week Spring Recess, Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Congressman Gene Green (D-TX) introduced H.R.1629, the Family Health Care Accessibility Act of 2011.
H.R. 1629 would extend Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) malpractice coverage to health practitioners volunteering at Section 330-funded health centers. Legislation that is virtually identical to H.R. 1629 passed the House by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 417 to 1 during the 111th Congress but was not considered by the Senate.
We are very encouraged by Congressman Murphy and Congressman Green’s continued leadership on this important issue and also commend the 20 additional House Members who are original co-sponsors of H.R. 1629.
Please remember to thank your Representative if he or she is among those that have already signaled support of the FTCA for Volunteers legislation. And if your Representative is not already a co-sponsor of H.R. 1629, consider asking them to signal their support by becoming one.