A pair of bills that passed the Legislature at the last minute could mean an expansion of three volunteer community health clinics on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“We’re meeting on Monday to talk about that,” said Patty Hannah, executive director of United Way of Clallam County.
“Dr. Hopfner wanted some help in his clinic because he is the sole doctor.”
Dr. Ed Hopfner volunteers along with nurse practitioner Larry Germain at the Port Angeles Association of Religious Communities Clinic at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Hopfner has been unable to recruit other volunteer doctors because of worries over potential liability and malpractice coverage.
The same holds true at clinics in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley and in Jefferson County.
But two pieces of legislation, born on the North Olympic Peninsula and passed just before the state Legislature adjourned near midnight Thursday, should solve Hopfner’s and the others’ problem, Hannah said.
The bills:
* HB2787 provides immunity for health care providers, such as doctors, nurses, dentists and physician assistants, when volunteering in free medical clinics.
That means both active and retired physicians, dentists and other licensed health care providers can volunteer without fear of a lawsuit.
It passed 92-6 in the House of Representatives and 49-0 in the Senate.
* HB2788 allows expansion of medical malpractice insurance to retired primary care physicians who volunteer in both free and for-profit clinics.
That means a for-profit clinic such as Virginia Mason can set aside a specific time to give free care, and that retired physicians can have medical malpractice insurance coverage.
The second bill passed 88-10 in the House and 49-0 in the Senate.
Both bills go to Gov. Gary Locke for his signature.
