Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2019

To amend the Public Health Service Act to limit the liability of health care professionals who volunteer to provide health care services in response to a disaster. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2019 2. Limitation on liability for volunteer health care professionals (a) In general Title II of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 202 224A. Limitation on liability for volunteer health care professionals (a) Limitation on liability Except as provided in subsection (b), a health care professional shall not be liable under Federal or State law for any harm caused by an act or omission of the professional in the provision of health care services if— (1) the professional is serving, for purposes of responding to a disaster, as a volunteer; and (2) the act or omission occurs— (A) during the period of the disaster, as determined under the laws listed in subsection (d)(1); (B) in the State or States for which the disaster is declared; (C) in the health care professional’s capacity as a volunteer; (D) in the course of providing services that are within the scope of the license, registration, or certification of the volunteer, as defined by the State of licensure, registration, or certification; and (E) in a good faith belief that the individual being treated is in need of health care services. (b) Exceptions Subsection (a) does not apply if— (1) the harm was caused by an act or omission constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the health care professional; or (2) the health care professional rendered the health care services under the influence (as determined pursuant to applicable State law) of alcohol or an intoxicating drug. (c) Preemption (1) In general This section preempts the laws of a State or any political subdivision of a State to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with this section, unless such laws provide greater protection from liability. (2) Volunteer Protection Act Protections afforded by this section are in addition to those provided by the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term disaster (A) a national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act; (B) an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; or (C) a public health emergency that is determined by the Secretary under section 319 of this Act with respect to one or more States specified in such determination— (i) during only the initial period covered by such determination; and (ii) excluding any period covered by a renewal of such determination. (2) The term harm (3) The term health care professional (4) The term health care services (A) the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any human disease or impairment; or (B) the assessment or care of the health of a human being. (5) The term State (6) (A) The term volunteer (i) compensation; or (ii) any other thing of value in lieu of compensation, in excess of $500 per year. (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term compensation (i) includes payment under any insurance policy or health plan, or under any Federal or State health benefits program; and (ii) excludes— (I) reasonable reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually incurred; (II) receipt of paid leave; and (III) receipt of items to be used exclusively for rendering the health services in the health care professional’s capacity as a volunteer described in subsection (a)(1). . (b) Effective date (1) In general Section 224A of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Application Section 224A of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a), applies to a claim for harm only if the act or omission that caused such harm occurred on or after the effective date described in paragraph (1). 3. Sense of the Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) health care professionals should be encouraged to register with the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR–VHP), and States should employ online registration with the promptest processing possible of such registrations to foster the rapid deployment and utilization of volunteer health care professionals following a disaster; (2) Federal and State agencies and licensing boards should cooperate to facilitate the timely movement of properly licensed volunteer health care professionals to areas affected by a disaster; and (3) the appropriate licensing entities should verify the licenses of volunteer health care professionals serving disaster victims as soon as is reasonably practical following a disaster.

Summary: Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2019 This bill shields health care professionals from liability under federal or state law for harm caused by an act or omission while (1) the professional is serving as a volunteer in response to a disaster; and (2) such act or omission occurs during the period of the disaster, in the state where the disaster has been declared, in the professional's capacity as a volunteer, during the course of providing a service for which the professional is licensed or certified, and with a good faith belief that the individual being treated is in need of health care services. This protection from liability does not apply if (1) the harm was caused by an act or omission constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or (2) the professional rendered the health care services under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating drug.