Community Health Centers Malpractice Statistics: The Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Acts of 1992 and 1995 (FSHCAA) provides that certain persons, referred to as covered individuals (i.e., governing board members, officers, employees, and certain individual contractors) of FTCA covered entities (e.g., health centers that receive section 330 funds and have been approved for coverage or “deemed” as employees of the Public Health Service (PHS) by the Secretary) be treated as PHS employees for purposes of medical malpractice liability coverage. Covered activities are acts or omissions in the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related functions resulting in personal injury, including death, and occurring within the scope of employment (including within the approved scope of project). This means that a covered entity or individual is immune and will not be financially liable for any claims arising from covered activities. Congress’ intent was to increase the availability of funds to health centers to provide primary health care services by reducing or eliminating health centers’ malpractice insurance premiums.
In a report by KHN entitled “When Malpractice Occurs at Community Health Centers, Taxpayers Pay” based on federal data released to KHN through a public records request, there were 485 medical malpractice payouts made nationwide involving community health centers from 2018 through 2021. The total amount of the medical malpractice settlements and judgments was $410 million.
The mostly private community health centers provide health care services to 30 million low-income Americans at the 1,375 federally qualified health centers in the United States. These community health centers receive $6 billion annually in federal grants yet they are immune from medical malpractice claims and are covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which means if there is a medical malpractice payout, the United States pays. About 86% of community health centers were covered under the FTCA for medical malpractice coverage as of September 2022.
The median payment for malpractice settlements or judgments involving community health centers was $225,000 from 2018 through 2021, according to the data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees the community health centers. The total was at least $1 million in 68 of the 485 medical malpractice payouts.
The community health centers receive yearly grants from the federal government and also receive higher reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare than private doctors. However, the community health centers are not allowed to turn anyone away, and the fees charged to low-income patients are on a sliding scale (nearly half of the community health centers’ patients are covered by Medicaid, and 20% are uninsured).
The Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Acts of 1992 and 1995 (FSHCAA) provides that certain persons, referred to as covered individuals (i.e., governing board members, officers, employees, and certain individual contractors) of FTCA covered entities (e.g., health centers that receive section 330 funds and have been approved for coverage or “deemed” as employees of the Public Health Service (PHS) by the Secretary) be treated as PHS employees for purposes of medical malpractice liability coverage. Covered activities are acts or omissions in the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or related functions resulting in personal injury, including death, and occurring within the scope of employment (including within the approved scope of project). This means that a covered entity or individual is immune and will not be financially liable for any claims arising from covered activities. Congress’ intent was to increase the availability of funds to health centers to provide primary health care services by reducing or eliminating health centers’ malpractice insurance premiums.
In a report by KHN entitled “When Malpractice Occurs at Community Health Centers, Taxpayers Pay” based on federal data released to KHN through a public records request, there were 485 medical malpractice payouts made nationwide involving community health centers from 2018 through 2021. The total amount of the medical malpractice settlements and judgments was $410 million.
The mostly private community health centers provide health care services to 30 million low-income Americans at the 1,375 federally qualified health centers in the United States. These community health centers receive $6 billion annually in federal grants yet they are immune from medical malpractice claims and are covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which means if there is a medical malpractice payout, the United States pays. About 86% of community health centers were covered under the FTCA for medical malpractice coverage as of September 2022.
The median payment for malpractice settlements or judgments involving community health centers was $225,000 from 2018 through 2021, according to the data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees the community health centers. The total was at least $1 million in 68 of the 485 medical malpractice payouts.
The community health centers receive yearly grants from the federal government and also receive higher reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare than private doctors. However, the community health centers are not allowed to turn anyone away, and the fees charged to low-income patients are on a sliding scale (nearly half of the community health centers’ patients are covered by Medicaid, and 20% are uninsured).
If you or a loved one may have been injured as a result of community health center medical malpractice in the United States, you should promptly find a medical malpractice lawyer in your state who may investigate your community health center medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a community health center medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
Click here to visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find FTCA medical malpractice attorneys in your U.S. state who may assist you.
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