government
House panel approves medical liability and training bills
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 9, 2010
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed bills that would extend liability protection to physicians volunteering at health centers and help military medics become emergency physicians.
The Family Health Care Accessibility Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy (R, Pa.), would extend the Federal Tort Claims Act to include physicians who volunteer at community health centers. Health center employees receive medical liability coverage under the act. The liability extension would cost about $1.5 million annually, Murphy said.
The Emergency Medic Transition Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman (D, Calif.), would provide grants to states with programs for recruiting and training military medics to become emergency physicians. It also would repay veterans' certification and licensing costs.
Both bills were adopted on July 27 by voice votes. The bills do not yet have Senate companion measures.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/08/09/gvbf0809.htm.
