The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Wednesday by voice vote approved a bill (HR 1343) that would reauthorize a program designed to provide support to community health centers to care for uninsured U.S. residents, CQ HealthBeat reports. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2012. In addition, the bill would allow limited liability protection for physicians who volunteer at community health centers and extend liability protections to employees who travel to provide emergency care.

Subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said, "This program will strengthen our community health centers and help them fulfill the role they play in guaranteeing access to high-quality health care services." The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved similar legislation (S 901) in November 2007 (Nylen, CQ HealthBeat, 4/23).

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