The Federal Tort Claims Act Program (FTCA) would like to draw your attention to the upcoming deadline to submit Health Center FTCA Redeeming and Volunteer Health Professional (VHP) Redeeming applications for Cycle Year 2026. The deadline for submission is no later than June 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
It is important to remember that deemed health centers must reapply annually to maintain their FTCA coverage. Failure to submit a completed FTCA application by the deadline will require health centers to reapply as initial applicants and may subject them to a site visit before obtaining deeming approval for Calendar Year 2027 coverage.
We would like to highlight that non-compliance with the deadline may result in a temporary gap in coverage, which would require health centers to obtain malpractice insurance from an alternate provider until applications have been reviewed and approved. To mitigate any potential coverage gaps, we recommend health centers consider the purchase of private medical malpractice insurance if the deadline cannot be met.
Volunteer Health Professionals: All health centers seeking to redeem or sponsor new volunteers through the VHP Program may do so by submitting a VHP sponsorship application with their health center redeeming application. Before submitting a redeeming application, the EHBs system will prompt health centers to indicate whether they want to sponsor new or redeem existing VHPs. During the redeeming period, the only method for adding new VHPs is through submission of a VHP sponsorship application with the redeeming application because VHP supplemental applications are not available. After the redeeming cycle closes, FTCA will open the VHP supplemental application system, allowing health centers to sponsor new volunteers who require onboarding after the redeeming cycle has ended.
Application resources and technical assistance can be obtained through the FTCA Application Process page which includes these key resources:
Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2026-01 This comprehensive document outlines the guidelines, requirements, and updates pertinent to this year's application process. We strongly recommend reviewing the PAL to understand submission requirements. The PAL can be accessed using the following link: Calendar Year 2027 Requirements for Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Coverage for Health Centers and Their Covered Individuals
FTCA Application Step-By-Step Guide 2026 Edition: In conjunction with the PAL, this guide offers a detailed, question-by-question walkthrough designed to simplify the completion of health center FTCA applications. By following this guide, you can confidently navigate the application process while demonstrating full compliance with FTCA requirements.
Should you or your health centers have any questions or require further assistance, please direct your inquiries to the Health Center Program Support, who are available to provide guidance and support:
- By phone: 877-464-4772, option (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, excluding Federal holidays)
- Online: Visit the following webpage: BPHC Contact Form