HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the Free Clinics Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Medical Malpractice Program to extend medical malpractice coverage to volunteer health care professionals working in free clinics. 
 
"The program will expand access to vital health care services for low-income individuals who rely on free clinics for their care by removing malpractice liability as a barrier to doctors who want to volunteer at free clinics,” said Secretary Thompson.  "This will also help increase the number of health care professionals giving of their time and expertise at free clinics."
 
Congress authorized FTCA medical malpractice protection for volunteer free clinic health professionals in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.  Under the Public Health Service Act, HHS can deem a volunteer free clinic health care professional to be an employee of the Public Health Service, thus extending medical malpractice coverage to them.
 
The Free Clinics FTCA Medical Malpractice Program is administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.