Wisconsin Volunteer Health Care Provider Liability Coverage (VHCP)
On June 30, 2015 the DHS had a webcast regarding the VHCP. You can watch the webcast here. View the slides from the webcast here.
Wisconsin does have a state program that can provide liability coverage for licensed health professionals who volunteer ("volunteer health care provider") their services to provide outpatient care at free clinics. In April 2014, Wisconsin Acts 241 and 344 became effective, amending Wis. Stat. § 146.89 which authorizes the program.
"Volunteer health care provider" means an individual who is one of the following and who receives no income from the practice of his or her health care profession or who receives no income from the practice of that health care profession when providing services at the nonprofit agency specified under sub. (3) or for the school board or governing body specified under sub. (3r):
1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant under ch. 448, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.
2. Certified as a dietitian under subch. V of ch. 448.
3. A nurse practitioner, as defined in s. 255.06 (1) (d).
4. An individual who performs functions described for pharmacy technicians in rules promulgated by the pharmacy examining board.
5. An individual who holds a valid, unexpired license, certification, or registration issued by another state or territory that authorizes or qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts that an individual who is described in subds. 1. to 4., except a dentist or dental hygienist, is licensed or certified to perform and who performs acts that are within the scope of that license, certification, or registration.
5m. A psychologist who is licensed under ch. 455. NOTE: Subd. 5m. was created as subd. 5. by 2013 Wis. Act 344 and renumbered to subd. 5m. by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.
6. A social worker who holds a certificate granted under ch. 457.
7. A marriage and family therapist who is licensed under ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is licensed under ch. 457.
8. An advanced practice nurse who has a certificate to issue prescription orders under s. 441.16 (2).
Online Volunteer Online Liability Coverage (VHCP) Application link/URL.
The first step is to complete the site registration process via the DHS online portal system. The online portal may be found at: https://dhsapps.health.wisconsin.gov/VHCP . After your clinic has been registered and been approved, your site administrators will then be able to add your volunteer providers to the online system.
VIEW the Jan. 6th DHS Memo HERE
VIEW the Volunteer Liability Coverage User Guide HERE
Please let WAFCC know if you have any issues with the new VHCP portal or application process as WAFCC is keeping a log.
"Volunteer health care provider" means an individual who is one of the following and who receives no income from the practice of his or her health care profession or who receives no income from the practice of that health care profession when providing services at the nonprofit agency specified under sub. (3) or for the school board or governing body specified under sub. (3r):
1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant under ch. 448, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.
2. Certified as a dietitian under subch. V of ch. 448.
3. A nurse practitioner, as defined in s. 255.06 (1) (d).
4. An individual who performs functions described for pharmacy technicians in rules promulgated by the pharmacy examining board.
5. An individual who holds a valid, unexpired license, certification, or registration issued by another state or territory that authorizes or qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts that an individual who is described in subds. 1. to 4., except a dentist or dental hygienist, is licensed or certified to perform and who performs acts that are within the scope of that license, certification, or registration.
5m. A psychologist who is licensed under ch. 455. NOTE: Subd. 5m. was created as subd. 5. by 2013 Wis. Act 344 and renumbered to subd. 5m. by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.
6. A social worker who holds a certificate granted under ch. 457.
7. A marriage and family therapist who is licensed under ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is licensed under ch. 457.
8. An advanced practice nurse who has a certificate to issue prescription orders under s. 441.16 (2).
Online Volunteer Online Liability Coverage (VHCP) Application link/URL.
The first step is to complete the site registration process via the DHS online portal system. The online portal may be found at: https://dhsapps.health.wisconsin.gov/VHCP . After your clinic has been registered and been approved, your site administrators will then be able to add your volunteer providers to the online system.
VIEW the Jan. 6th DHS Memo HERE
VIEW the Volunteer Liability Coverage User Guide HERE
Please let WAFCC know if you have any issues with the new VHCP portal or application process as WAFCC is keeping a log.