At the heart of a health center’s mission and its operations is the provision of preventive and primary health care services to patients.  

Many health centers take part in the professional liability coverage offered under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) program.  From submitting the initial application for “deeming” status to implementing the program components and preparing for a site visit, the FTCA program can be complicated and confusing.  

FTCA coverage depends upon whether the services provided are:

• Within the health center’s 330 approve scope of project?
• Within the scope of employment?
• Provided to health center patients?

The answers to these questions are not simple.  They often require legal analysis, interpretation of HRSA documents and detailed understanding of medical malpractice insurance.  

Failing to comply with the FTCA program requirements can be costly for health centers and providers who can be left without malpractice insurance.