Latest News from Volunteers in Medicine

August 2009:

Leahy Introduces Legislation to Provide Relief for Free Clinics

BURLINGOTN, VT- With health care for the uninsured topping the list of critical topics in DC, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced legislation to expand the scope of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to provide malpractice coverage for board members, employees, contractors and officers of free clinics. The current law provides medical malpractice coverage for physicians who volunteer in free clinics. The expanded coverage will parallel what is currently available to federal qualified health care centers.

Currently, free clinics across the country spend thousands of dollars annually to purchase malpractice coverage. “These are funds that could be directed to providing health care to the uninsured.” said Leahy. “This is especially true in States like Vermont, where free clinics make a significant impact serving those in rural areas.”

This legislation would benefit all free clinics across the country that provide essential preventative health services to hundreds of thousands of uninsured.