Sponsored by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), "the Health Care Safety Net Enhancement Act ... was introduced in April, and would designate emergency providers as federal employees when providing EMTALA-related care, said Dana Lichtenberg, the legislative director for Representative Gordon's office. Basically, [EPs] wouldn't have to buy liability insurance. It would be provided by the federal government" -- at least in cases in which the federal EMTALA law obliged an emergency room to treat arriving patients. Limitations applicable to suits against federal employees, such as unavailability of punitive damages, would also be in effect. As of August, the bill had only three co-sponsors. [Emergency Medicine News; related state initiatives]