The volunteer retired provider malpractice insurance program (VRP) was established under RCW 43.70.460 and 43.70.470, and is administered by the department of health. The VRP program serves low-income patients by increasing access to health care services. The program pays the malpractice insurance for volunteer health care providers in qualified practice settings.

Qualified practice settings include any of the following:

(1) Public or tax exempt corporations.

(2) For-profit practice settings that maintain and hold themselves out to the public as providing health care services to medicaid patients and post a sliding fee scale.

(3) For-profit practice settings that have established hours on a regular basis for providing free health care services.

(4) For-profit practice settings that participate, through a written agreement, in a community-based program to provide access to health care services for uninsured persons.