- The Honorable Larry Bucshon, M.D.
United States House of Representatives
2313 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 - The Honorable Raul Ruiz, M.D.
United States House of Representatives
2342 Rayburn Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Subject: “Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2023”
Dear Congressmen Bucshon and Ruiz:
We, the undersigned members of the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA), wish to express our sincere thanks for your leadership in introducing the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2023. This much needed legislation will ensure that victims of federally declared disasters and public health emergencies will have adequate access to medical care following a catastrophic event.
Following national calamities like a natural disaster, terrorist attack or pandemic outbreak, it is crucial for affected Americans to have access to adequate medical resources in a timely manner. Unfortunately, federal law does not provide adequate protection to health care professionals who spontaneously volunteer their medical services in these times of need, nor does it protect those volunteers who cross state lines to treat victims of such tragedies. Compounding this problem, the current patchwork of state laws that aim to encourage medical volunteerism are ambiguous and inconsistent, especially when applied to large-scale events. These issues create an environment where vital medical volunteers may be turned away or forced to limit their services at a time when their help is most needed.
Click here to read the full Neurosurgery Joins Coalition Supporting Good Samaritan Liability Legislation.
