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HR 2938 104th Congress House

Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996

Official title: To encourage the furnishing of health care services to low-income individuals by exempting health care professionals from liability for negligence for certain … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To encourage the furnishing of health care services to low-income individuals by exempting health care professionals from liability for negligence for certain health care services provided without charge except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 28, 1996 See on congress.gov
Health Federal preemptionFree clinicsGood samaritan lawsGovernment Operations and Politics
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LawLiability (Law)MalpracticeNegligenceSocial WelfareState lawsVolunteer workers in social service
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 28, 1996
Committee Hearings Held.
Feb 27, 1996
Committee Hearings Held.
Feb 5, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E174)
Feb 1, 1996
Introduced in House
Feb 1, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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 Latest action February 28, 1996

Committee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996 - Exempts health care professionals from liability for negligence in the provision of health care services without charge in (or on referral from) a free medical clinic, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Makes this Act applicable only if such professional, before furnishing the service: (1) agrees to furnish such service voluntarily and without charge to the recipient or to any health insurance plan or program under which the recipient is covered; and (2) provides the recipient with adequate notice, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, of the professional's limited liability for that service.

Preempts any inconsistent State law. Specifies that this Act shall not preempt any State law that provides greater incentives or protections to a health care professional rendering such service.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 1 Republican 2
R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Apr 18, 1996
QUINN, JACK
· Apr 18, 1996
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 28, 1996
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Mar 28, 1996
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Feb 29, 1996
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2938: Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2938/
MLA
"H.R. 2938: Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2938/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2938, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2938/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2938: Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2938/)
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