Bill > S2151

This bill, the Family Health Care Accessibility Act of 2015, amends the Public Health Service Act to provide liability protections for health care professionals who volunteer their services at community health centers or through programs run by these centers. Specifically, it deems these volunteers as employees of the Public Health Service for the purpose of civil lawsuits arising from their services, meaning they would be protected from personal liability. To qualify for this protection, the volunteer must be providing primary health care, the services must be offered at the center's facilities or through its offsite events, the volunteer cannot receive compensation beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses, and both the volunteer and the center must ensure patients are clearly informed about the extent of liability limitations. Crucially, the community health center must formally sponsor the volunteer by submitting an application to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and HHS must approve this application, deeming the volunteer an employee of the Public Health Service. This protection applies to actions occurring after HHS makes this determination and is subject to specific reporting and funding mechanisms involving the Attorney General and HHS to estimate and transfer funds for potential claims.