Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003 - (Sec. 3) Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care lawsuits.
Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Specifies exceptions when a suit may be brought later than three years after the date of injury. Sets forth rules for actions by minors.
(Sec. 4) Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule.
(Sec. 5) Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees.
(Sec. 6) Permits the introduction of evidence of collateral source benefits, except that this section shall not apply to provisions of the Social Security Act pertaining to State plans for medical assistance and Medicare as secondary payer.
(Sec. 7) Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits punitive damages from being awarded where no judgment for compensatory damages is rendered. Prohibits their award for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, except if the manufacturer or distributor of a particular medical product or the supplier of a component or raw material of such a product causes harm by failing to comply with a specific requirement of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Declares that in cases involving alleged harm due to packaging or labeling of a drug required to have tamper resistant packaging, the manufacturer or product seller shall not be held liable for punitive damages unless the trier of fact finds evidence that the labeling or packaging is out of compliance with FDA regulations.
Allows punitive damages in cases where a person: (1) withholds from the FDA information pertaining to the alleged harm suffered; or (2) made an illegal payment to an FDA official to secure or maintain approval or clearance of a product.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants.
(Sec. 10) Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
(Sec. 11) Preempts a specified section of Federal law governing health care lawsuits to the extent that such section differs from this Act in certain ways, including if it provides for a greater amount of damages or contingent fees or a longer period in which a health care lawsuit may be commenced. Preempts State law unless such law imposes greater protections for health care providers and organizations from liability, loss, or damages.
(Sec. 13) Expresses the sense of Congress that a health insurer should be liable for damages for harm caused when it makes a decision as to what care is medically necessary and appropriate.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5
To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved
medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system
places on the health care delivery system.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2003
Mr. Greenwood (for himself, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Cox, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr.
Tauzin, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Goode, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Gerlach, Mrs. Capito,
Mr. Feeney, Mr. Kirk, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Platts, Mr. Shays, Mr.
Frelinghuysen, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. Lucas of
Kentucky, Mr. Stenholm, Mr. Taylor of Mississippi, Mr. Hobson, Ms.
Granger, Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Ms. Dunn, Mr. Rogers of Michigan,
Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Leach, Mr. Otter, Mr.
Graves, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Weldon of Florida, Mr.
Tiberi, Mr. Hayworth, Mr. Crane, Mr. Portman, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Souder,
Mr. Cannon, Mr. Shaw, Mr. McHugh, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Lewis of Kentucky,
Mrs. Northup, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Hulshof, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr.
Knollenberg, Mr. Houghton, Mr. Regula, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, Mr.
Forbes, Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Boehlert, Mr.
Nussle, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Gillmor, Ms. Hart,
Mr. Walsh, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Keller, and Mr.
Collins) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved
medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system
places on the health care delivery system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-
Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--
(1) Effect on health care access and costs.--Congress finds
that our current civil justice system is adversely affecting
patient access to health care services, better patient care,
and cost-efficient health care, in that the health care
liability system is a costly and ineffective mechanism for
resolving claims of health care liability and compensating
injured patients, and is a deterrent to the sharing of
information among health care professionals which impedes
efforts to improve patient safety and quality of care.
(2) Effect on interstate commerce.--Congress finds that the
health care and insurance industries are industries affecting
interstate commerce and the health care liability litigation
systems existing throughout the United States are activities
that affect interstate commerce by contributing to the high
costs of health care and premiums for health care liability
insurance purchased by health care system providers.
(3) Effect on federal spending.--Congress finds that the
health care liability litigation systems existing throughout
the United States have a significant effect on the amount,
distribution, and use of Federal funds because of--
(A) the large number of individuals who receive
health care benefits under programs operated or
financed by the Federal Government;
(B) the large number of individuals who benefit
because of the exclusion from Federal taxes of the
amounts spent to provide them with health insurance
benefits; and
(C) the large number of health care providers who
provide items or services for which the Federal
Government makes payments.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to implement
reasonable, comprehensive, and effective health care liability reforms
designed to--
(1) improve the availability of health care services in
cases in which health care liability actions have been shown to
be a factor in the decreased availability of services;
(2) reduce the incidence of ``defensive medicine'' and
lower the cost of health care liability insurance, all of which
contribute to the escalation of health care costs;
(3) ensure that persons with meritorious health care injury
claims receive fair and adequate compensation, including
reasonable noneconomic damages;
(4) improve the fairness and cost-effectiveness of our
current health care liability system to resolve disputes over,
and provide compensation for, health care liability by reducing
uncertainty in the amount of compensation provided to injured
individuals;
(5) provide an increased sharing of information in the
health care system which will reduce unintended injury and
improve patient care.
SEC. 3. ENCOURAGING SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF CLAIMS.
The time for the commencement of a health care lawsuit shall be 3
years after the date of manifestation of injury or 1 year after the
claimant discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should
have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first. In no event shall
the time for commencement of a health care lawsuit exceed 3 years after
the date of manifestation of injury unless tolled for any of the
following:
(1) Upon proof of fraud;
(2) Intentional concealment; or
(3) The presence of a foreign body, which has no
therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the person of
the injured person.
Actions by a minor shall be commenced within 3 years from the date of
the alleged manifestation of injury except that actions by a minor
under the full age of 6 years shall be commenced within 3 years of
manifestation of injury or prior to the minor's 8th birthday, whichever
provides a longer period. Such time limitation shall be tolled for
minors for any period during which a parent or guardian and a health
care provider or health care organization have committed fraud or
collusion in the failure to bring an action on behalf of the injured
minor.
SEC. 4. COMPENSATING PATIENT INJURY.
(a) Unlimited Amount of Damages for Actual Economic Losses in
Health Care Lawsuits.--In any health care lawsuit, the full amount of a
claimant's economic loss may be fully recovered without limitation.
(b) Additional Noneconomic Damages.--In any health care lawsuit,
the amount of noneconomic damages recovered may be as much as $250,000,
regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought
or the number of separate claims or actions brought with respect to the
same occurrence.
(c) No Discount of Award for Noneconomic Damages.--In any health
care lawsuit, an award for future noneconomic damages shall not be
discounted to present value. The jury shall not be informed about the
maximum award for noneconomic damages. An award for noneconomic damages
in excess of $250,000 shall be reduced either before the entry of
judgment, or by amendment of the judgment after entry of judgment, and
such reduction shall be made before accounting for any other reduction
in damages required by law. If separate awards are rendered for past
and future noneconomic damages and the combined awards exceed $250,000,
the future noneconomic damages shall be reduced first.
(d) Fair Share Rule.--In any health care lawsuit, each party shall
be liable for that party's several share of any damages only and not
for the share of any other person. Each party shall be liable only for
the amount of damages allocated to such party in direct proportion to
such party's percentage of responsibility. A separate judgment shall be
rendered against each such party for the amount allocated to such
party. For purposes of this section, the trier of fact shall determine
the proportion of responsibility of each party for the claimant's harm.
SEC. 5. MAXIMIZING PATIENT RECOVERY.
(a) Court Supervision of Share of Damages Actually Paid to
Claimants.--In any health care lawsuit, the court shall supervise the
arrangements for payment of damages to protect against conflicts of
interest that may have the effect of reducing the amount of damages
awarded that are actually paid to claimants. In particular, in any
health care lawsuit in which the attorney for a party claims a
financial stake in the outcome by virtue of a contingent fee, the court
shall have the power to restrict the payment of a claimant's damage
recovery to such attorney, and to redirect such damages to the claimant
based upon the interests of justice and principles of equity. In no
event shall the total of all contingent fees for representing all
claimants in a health care lawsuit exceed the following limits:
(1) 40 percent of the first $50,000 recovered by the
claimant(s).
(2) 33\1/3\ percent of the next $50,000 recovered by the
claimant(s).
(3) 25 percent of the next $500,000 recovered by the
claimant(s).
(4) 15 percent of any amount by which the recovery by the
claimant(s) is in excess of $600,000.
(b) Applicability.--The limitations in this section shall apply
whether the recovery is by judgment, settlement, mediation,
arbitration, or any other form of alternative dispute resolution. In a
health care lawsuit involving a minor or incompetent person, a court
retains the authority to authorize or approve a fee that is less than
the maximum permitted under this section.
SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS.
In any health care lawsuit, any party may introduce evidence of
collateral source benefits. If a party elects to introduce such
evidence, any opposing party may introduce evidence of any amount paid
or contributed or reasonably likely to be paid or contributed in the
future by or on behalf of the opposing party to secure the right to
such collateral source benefits. No provider of collateral source
benefits shall recover any amount against the claimant or receive any
lien or credit against the claimant's recovery or be equitably or
legally subrogated to the right of the claimant in a health care
lawsuit. This section shall apply to any health care lawsuit that is
settled as well as a health care lawsuit that is resolved by a fact
finder. This section shall not apply to section 1862(b) (42 U.S.C.
1395y(b)) or section 1902(a)(25) (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(25)) of the Social
Security Act.
SEC. 7. PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
(a) In General.--Punitive damages may, if otherwise permitted by
applicable State or Federal law, be awarded against any person in a
health care lawsuit only if it is proven by clear and convincing
evidence that such person acted with malicious intent to injure the
claimant, or that such person deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary
injury that such person knew the claimant was substantially certain to
suffer. In any health care lawsuit where no judgment for compensatory
damages is rendered against such person, no punitive damages may be
awarded with respect to the claim in such lawsuit. No demand for
punitive damages shall be included in a health care lawsuit as
initially filed. A court may allow a claimant to file an amended
pleading for punitive damages only upon a motion by the claimant and
after a finding by the court, upon review of supporting and opposing
affidavits or after a hearing, after weighing the evidence, that the
claimant has established by a substantial probability that the claimant
will prevail on the claim for punitive damages. At the request of any
party in a health care lawsuit, the trier of fact shall consider in a
separate proceeding--
(1) whether punitive damages are to be awarded and the
amount of such award; and
(2) the amount of punitive damages following a
determination of punitive liability.
If a separate proceeding is requested, evidence relevant only to the
claim for punitive damages, as determined by applicable State law,
shall be inadmissible in any proceeding to determine whether
compensatory damages are to be awarded.
(b) Determining Amount of Punitive Damages.--
(1) Factors considered.--In determining the amount of
punitive damages, if awarded, in a health care lawsuit, the
trier of fact shall consider only the following:
(A) the severity of the harm caused by the conduct
of such party;
(B) the duration of the conduct or any concealment
of it by such party;
(C) the profitability of the conduct to such party;
(D) the number of products sold or medical
procedures rendered for compensation, as the case may
be, by such party, of the kind causing the harm
complained of by the claimant;
(E) any criminal penalties imposed on such party,
as a result of the conduct complained of by the
claimant; and
(F) the amount of any civil fines assessed against
such party as a result of the conduct complained of by
the claimant.
(2) Maximum award.--The amount of punitive damages, if
awarded, in a health care lawsuit may be as much as $250,000 or
as much as two times the amount of economic damages awarded,
whichever is greater. The jury shall not be informed of this
limitation.
(c) No Civil Monetary Penalties for Products in Compliance With FDA
Standards.--
(1) Punitive damages.--
(A) In general.--In addition to the requirements of
subsection (a), punitive damages may not be awarded
against the manufacturer or distributor of a medical
product, or a supplier of any component or raw material
of such medical product, on the basis that the harm to
the claimant was caused by the lack of safety or
effectiveness of the particular medical product
involved, unless the claimant demonstrates by clear and
convincing evidence that--
(i) the manufacturer or distributor of the
particular medical product, or supplier of any
component or raw material of such medical
product, failed to comply with a specific
requirement of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act or the regulations promulgated
thereunder; and
(ii) the harm attributed to the particular
medical product resulted from such failure to
comply with such specific statutory requirement
or regulation.
(B) Rule of construction.--Subparagraph (A) may not
be construed as establishing the obligation of the Food
and Drug Administration to demonstrate affirmatively
that a manufacturer, distributor, or supplier referred
to in such subparagraph meets any of the conditions
described in such subparagraph.
(2) Liability of health care providers.--A health care
provider who prescribes a medical product approved or cleared
by the Food and Drug Administration shall not be named as a
party to a product liability lawsuit involving such product and
shall not be liable to a claimant in a class action lawsuit
against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of such
product.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT OF FUTURE DAMAGES TO CLAIMANTS IN
HEALTH CARE LAWSUITS.
(a) In General.--In any health care lawsuit, if an award of future
damages, without reduction to present value, equaling or exceeding
$50,000 is made against a party with sufficient insurance or other
assets to fund a periodic payment of such a judgment, the court shall,
at the request of any party, enter a judgment ordering that the future
damages be paid by periodic payments in accordance with the Uniform
Periodic Payment of Judgments Act promulgated by the National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
(b) Applicability.--This section applies to all actions which have
not been first set for trial or retrial before the effective date of
this Act.
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Alternative dispute resolution system; adr.--The term
``alternative dispute resolution system'' or ``ADR'' means a
system that provides for the resolution of health care lawsuits
in a manner other than through a civil action brought in a
State or Federal court.
(2) Claimant.--The term ``claimant'' means any person who
brings a health care lawsuit, including a person who asserts or
claims a right to legal or equitable contribution, indemnity or
subrogation, arising out of a health care liability claim or
action, and any person on whose behalf such a claim is asserted
or such an action is brought, whether deceased, incompetent, or
a minor.
(3) Collateral source benefits.--The term ``collateral
source benefits'' means any amount paid or reasonably likely to
be paid in the future to or on behalf of the claimant, or any
service, product or other benefit provided or reasonably likely
to be provided in the future to or on behalf of the claimant,
as a result of the injury or wrongful death, pursuant to--
(A) any State or Federal health, sickness, income-
disability, accident, or workers' compensation law;
(B) any health, sickness, income-disability, or
accident insurance that provides health benefits or
income-disability coverage;
(C) any contract or agreement of any group,
organization, partnership, or corporation to provide,
pay for, or reimburse the cost of medical, hospital,
dental, or income disability benefits; and
(D) any other publicly or privately funded program.
(4) Compensatory damages.--The term ``compensatory
damages'' means objectively verifiable monetary losses incurred
as a result of the provision of, use of, or payment for (or
failure to provide, use, or pay for) health care services or
medical products, such as past and future medical expenses,
loss of past and future earnings, cost of obtaining domestic
services, loss of employment, and loss of business or
employment opportunities, damages for physical and emotional
pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, mental
anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of
society and companionship, loss of consortium (other than loss
of domestic service), hedonic damages, injury to reputation,
and all other nonpecuniary losses of any kind or nature. The
term ``compensatory damages'' includes economic damages and
noneconomic damages, as such terms are defined in this section.
(5) Contingent fee.--The term ``contingent fee'' includes
all compensation to any person or persons which is payable only
if a recovery is effected on behalf of one or more claimants.
(6) Economic damages.--The term ``economic damages'' means
objectively verifiable monetary losses incurred as a result of
the provision of, use of, or payment for (or failure to
provide, use, or pay for) health care services or medical
products, such as past and future medical expenses, loss of
past and future earnings, cost of obtaining domestic services,
loss of employment, and loss of business or employment
opportunities.
(7) Health care lawsuit.--The term ``health care lawsuit''
means any health care liability claim concerning the provision
of health care goods or services affecting interstate commerce,
or any health care liability action concerning the provision of
health care goods or services affecting interstate commerce,
brought in a State or Federal court or pursuant to an
alternative dispute resolution system, against a health care
provider, a health care organization, or the manufacturer,
distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a
medical product, regardless of the theory of liability on which
the claim is based, or the number of claimants, plaintiffs,
defendants, or other parties, or the number of claims or causes
of action, in which the claimant alleges a health care
liability claim.
(8) Health care liability action.--The term ``health care
liability action'' means a civil action brought in a State or
Federal Court or pursuant to an alternative dispute resolution
system, against a health care provider, a health care
organization, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier,
marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, regardless
of the theory of liability on which the claim is based, or the
number of plaintiffs, defendants, or other parties, or the
number of causes of action, in which the claimant alleges a
health care liability claim.
(9) Health care liability claim.--The term ``health care
liability claim'' means a demand by any person, whether or not
pursuant to ADR, against a health care provider, health care
organization, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier,
marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, including,
but not limited to, third-party claims, cross-claims, counter-
claims, or contribution claims, which are based upon the
provision of, use of, or payment for (or the failure to
provide, use, or pay for) health care services or medical
products, regardless of the theory of liability on which the
claim is based, or the number of plaintiffs, defendants, or
other parties, or the number of causes of action.
(10) Health care organization.--The term ``health care
organization'' means any person or entity which is obligated to
provide or pay for health benefits under any health plan,
including any person or entity acting under a contract or
arrangement with a health care organization to provide or
administer any health benefit.
(11) Health care provider.--The term ``health care
provider'' means any person or entity required by State or
Federal laws or regulations to be licensed, registered, or
certified to provide health care services, and being either so
licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from such
requirement by other statute or regulation.
(12) Health care goods or services.--The term ``health care
goods or services'' means any goods or services provided by a
health care organization, provider, or by any individual
working under the supervision of a health care provider, that
relates to the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any human
disease or impairment, or the assessment of the health of human
beings.
(13) Malicious intent to injure.--The term ``malicious
intent to injure'' means intentionally causing or attempting to
cause physical injury other than providing health care goods or
services.
(14) Medical product.--The term ``medical product'' means a
drug or device intended for humans, and the terms ``drug'' and
``device'' have the meanings given such terms in sections
201(g)(1) and 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 321), respectively, including any component or raw
material used therein, but excluding health care services.
(15) Noneconomic damages.--The term ``noneconomic damages''
means damages for physical and emotional pain, suffering,
inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish,
disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of society and
companionship, loss of consortium (other than loss of domestic
service), hedonic damages, injury to reputation, and all other
nonpecuniary losses of any kind or nature.
(16) Punitive damages.--The term ``punitive damages'' means
damages awarded, for the purpose of punishment or deterrence,
and not solely for compensatory purposes, against a health care
provider, health care organization, or a manufacturer,
distributor, or supplier of a medical product. Punitive damages
are neither economic nor noneconomic damages.
(17) Recovery.--The term ``recovery'' means the net sum
recovered after deducting any disbursements or costs incurred
in connection with prosecution or settlement of the claim,
including all costs paid or advanced by any person. Costs of
health care incurred by the plaintiff and the attorneys' office
overhead costs or charges for legal services are not deductible
disbursements or costs for such purpose.
(18) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
and any other territory or possession of the United States, or
any political subdivision thereof.
SEC. 10. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
(a) Vaccine Injury.--
(1) To the extent that title XXI of the Public Health
Service Act establishes a Federal rule of law applicable to a
civil action brought for a vaccine-related injury or death--
(A) this Act does not affect the application of the
rule of law to such an action; and
(B) any rule of law prescribed by this Act in
conflict with a rule of law of such title XXI shall not
apply to such action.
(2) If there is an aspect of a civil action brought for a
vaccine-related injury or death to which a Federal rule of law
under title XXI of the Public Health Service Act does not
apply, then this Act or otherwise applicable law (as determined
under this Act) will apply to such aspect of such action.
(b) Other Federal Law.--Except as provided in this section, nothing
in this Act shall be deemed to affect any defense available to a
defendant in a health care lawsuit or action under any other provision
of Federal law.
SEC. 11. STATE FLEXIBILITY AND PROTECTION OF STATES' RIGHTS.
(a) Health Care Lawsuits.--The provisions governing health care
lawsuits set forth in this Act preempt, subject to subsections (b) and
(c), State law to the extent that State law prevents the application of
any provisions of law established by or under this Act. The provisions
governing health care lawsuits set forth in this Act supersede chapter
171 of title 28, United States Code, to the extent that such chapter--
(1) provides for a greater amount of damages or contingent
fees, a longer period in which a health care lawsuit may be
commenced, or a reduced applicability or scope of periodic
payment of future damages, than provided in this Act; or
(2) prohibits the introduction of evidence regarding
collateral source benefits, or mandates or permits subrogation
or a lien on collateral source benefits.
(b) Protection of States' Rights.--Any issue that is not governed
by any provision of law established by or under this Act (including
State standards of negligence) shall be governed by otherwise
applicable State or Federal law. This Act does not preempt or supersede
any law that imposes greater protections (such as a shorter statute of
limitations) for health care providers and health care organizations
from liability, loss, or damages than those provided by this Act.
(c) State Flexibility.--No provision of this Act shall be construed
to preempt--
(1) any State law (whether effective before, on, or after
the date of the enactment of this Act) that specifies a
particular monetary amount of compensatory or punitive damages
(or the total amount of damages) that may be awarded in a
health care lawsuit, regardless of whether such monetary amount
is greater or lesser than is provided for under this Act,
notwithstanding section 4(a); or
(2) any defense available to a party in a health care
lawsuit under any other provision of State or Federal law.
SEC. 12. APPLICABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall apply to any health care lawsuit brought in a
Federal or State court, or subject to an alternative dispute resolution
system, that is initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act, except that any health care lawsuit arising from an injury
occurring prior to the date of the enactment of this Act shall be
governed by the applicable statute of limitations provisions in effect
at the time the injury occurred.
SEC. 13. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that a health insurer should be liable
for damages for harm caused when it makes a decision as to what care is
medically necessary and appropriate.
<all>
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-32, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 108-32, Part II.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 108-32, Part II.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 20.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 139 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides for 80 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Measure will be considered read. The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 108-34) shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides that H.Res. 126 is laid on...
Rule H. Res. 139 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 139. (consideration: CR H1817-1871, H1879-1880; text of measure as reported in House: CR H1829-1832)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides for 80 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Measure will be considered read. The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 108-34) shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides that H.Res. 126 is laid on...
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 5.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Mr. Conyers moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary and Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H1866-1871; text: CR H1866-1869)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require that the bill be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment in the nature of a substitute entitled "Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003".
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 234 (Roll no. 63).
Roll Call #63 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 196, 1 Present (Roll No. 64).(text: CR H1832-1834)
Roll Call #64 (House)On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 196, 1 Present (Roll No. 64). (text: CR H1832-1834)
Roll Call #64 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate.
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 49.