The House Energy & Commerce Committee yesterday approved the Good Samaritan Health Professional Act (H.R. 1876), AHA-supported 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 to sponsor Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) last May. “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.”

Related News Articles

Chairperson's File
The COVID-19 pandemic, opioid crisis and mpox outbreak. Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. Severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides in Kentucky. Wildfires and…
Headline
As Congress considers reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, AHA yesterday urged lawmakers to fund the Hospital Preparedness Program…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration last week reported on its fiscal year 2022 activities to support medical countermeasures, as required by the Pandemic and All-…
Headline
On Feb. 28, the National Library of Medicine will discontinue its Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders, which provides web-based and standalone…
Headline
The Federal Emergency Management Agency last week released a report recommending changes to streamline its Public Assistance Program based on feedback…
Headline
Emergency departments in the highest quartile of pediatric readiness based on National Pediatric Readiness Project standards have lower death rates for…