Federal Torts Claim Act (FTCA) Deemed Facility
North Star Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has federal Public Health Service deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.
This means that, for the purposes of malpractice claims, North Star Health is deemed to be a federal employee and is, therefore, qualified for protection under the FTCA. According to FTCA requirements, in circumstances where FTCA liability protections apply a claimant must first present an administrative claim to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the General Counsel (see Claims Filing: Health Centers).