The Senate HELP Committee passed the bipartisan pandemic bill, including a permanent extension of Federal Tort Claims Act Coverage for Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals. Statutory authority for the Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals (VHP) Program is currently due to sunset on October 1, 2022. Previously issued VHP Notices of Deeming Action (NDA) are being amended to expressly reflect this statutory sunset date. Future VHP Notices of Deeming Action for the calendar year 2022 also will reflect the statutory sunset date of September 30, 2022. Absent legislative action to continue the program beyond the statutory sunset date, HRSA will not accept VHP deeming applications submitted after May 9, 2022.
