AHA voices support for Good Samaritan Health Professional Act

The AHA today expressed support for the Good Samaritan Health Professional Act (H.R. 1876), legislation that would extend liability standards under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to licensed health professionals who volunteer in another state during a disaster. “This legislation is a positive step toward removing an impediment for physicians and other clinicians who would like to volunteer in another state during a disaster,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels in a letter of support for the bill. “While current state and federal laws provide some level of liability protections for licensed health care professionals administering health care services in response to a declared federal disaster, your legislation fills the gap in current law by extending liability protections to health care professionals crossing state lines to ensure people receive needed health care during such an emergency.” The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today held a hearing on H.R. 1876 and other public health legislation.