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Bill

S 2390

"Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Bucco

New Jersey bill establishes legal protections for licensed medical professionals providing unpaid volunteer healthcare services, potentially expanding care access while clarifying liability and professional standards.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
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Bill Summary · S 2390

Legislative bill overview

S 2390, the "Volunteer Medical Professional Health Care Act," aims to establish legal protections and frameworks for medical professionals who provide volunteer healthcare services in New Jersey. The bill creates conditions under which licensed healthcare providers can offer care without compensation while maintaining professional standards and liability protections.

Why is this important

Volunteer medical professionals play a critical role in underserved communities, disaster response, and free clinics, yet often face legal and insurance barriers that discourage participation. Clear statutory protections could expand access to healthcare for vulnerable populations while ensuring volunteer providers have adequate legal safeguards against liability claims.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and malpractice coverage: Questions about who bears financial responsibility if a volunteer provider causes harm—the volunteer, their employer, the healthcare facility, or an insurance fund
  • Professional standard enforcement: Balancing liability protection for volunteers with maintaining accountability and ensuring they meet the same clinical standards as paid providers
  • Scope of volunteer work: Defining which medical services volunteers can legally provide and in which settings (free clinics, hospitals, disaster zones, private offices) without regulatory ambiguity
  • Insurance market impact: Whether protections might inadvertently reduce demand for medical malpractice insurance or create unfair competitive advantages for volunteer-staffed facilities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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