Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of the manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Specifies exceptions, and rules for actions brought by minors.
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.
Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees.
Provides for a reduction in damage awards by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled, less any insurance premiums or payments made to obtain such benefits.
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 any demand for punitive damages from being included in a health care lawsuit as initially filed. Prohibits the award of punitive damages for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, absent material and knowing misrepresentation by those submitting required approval or clearance information to the FDA.
Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants.
Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Preempts any Federal or State law unless such law imposes greater protections from liability, loss, or damages for a health care provider, a health care organization, or for the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 607 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 33
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 607
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 12, 2003
Mr. Ensign (for himself, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Thomas, Mr.
Voinovich, and Mr. Kyl) introduced the following bill; which was read
the first time
March 13, 2003
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
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 Act of 2003'' or the ``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; and
(5) provide an increased sharing of information in the
health care system which will reduce unintended injury and
improve patient care.
SEC. 3. 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. Such term 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
(or the failure to provide) 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
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, care, 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. 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. 4. ENCOURAGING SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF CLAIMS.
(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided for in this section,
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.
(b) General Exception.--The time for the commencement of a health
care lawsuit shall not exceed 3 years after the date of manifestation
of injury unless the tolling of time was delayed as a result of--
(1) 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.
(c) Minors.--An action by a minor shall be commenced within 3 years
from the date of the alleged manifestation of injury except that if
such minor is under the full age of 6 years, such action shall be
commenced within 3 years of the manifestation of injury, or prior to
the eighth birthday of the minor, 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. 5. COMPENSATING PATIENT INJURY.
(a) Unlimited Amount of Damages for Actual Economic Losses in
Health Care Lawsuits.--In any health care lawsuit, nothing in this Act
shall limit the recovery by a claimant of the full amount of the
available economic damages, notwithstanding the limitation contained in
subsection (b).
(b) Additional Noneconomic Damages.--In any health care lawsuit,
the amount of noneconomic damages recovered, if otherwise available
under applicable Federal or State law, 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--
(1) an award for future noneconomic damages shall not be
discounted to present value;
(2) the jury shall not be informed about the maximum award
for noneconomic damages under subsection (b);
(3) 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; and
(4) 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. 6. MAXIMIZING PATIENT RECOVERY.
(a) Court Supervision of Share of Damages Actually Paid to
Claimants.--
(1) In general.--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.
(2) Contingency fees.--
(A) In general.--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.
(B) Limitation.--The total of all contingent fees
for representing all claimants in a health care lawsuit
shall not exceed the following limits:
(i) 40 percent of the first $50,000
recovered by the claimant(s).
(ii) 33\1/3\ percent of the next $50,000
recovered by the claimant(s).
(iii) 25 percent of the next $500,000
recovered by the claimant(s).
(iv) 15 percent of any amount by which the
recovery by the claimant(s) is in excess of
$600,000.
(b) Applicability.--
(1) In general.--The limitations in subsection (a) shall
apply whether the recovery is by judgment, settlement,
mediation, arbitration, or any other form of alternative
dispute resolution.
(2) Minors.--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.
(c) Expert Witnesses.--
(1) Requirement.--No individual shall be qualified to
testify as an expert witness concerning issues of negligence in
any health care lawsuit against a defendant unless such
individual--
(A) except as required under paragraph (2), is a
health care professional who--
(i) is appropriately credentialed or
licensed in 1 or more States to deliver health
care services; and
(ii) typically treats the diagnosis or
condition or provides the type of treatment
under review; and
(B) can demonstrate by competent evidence that, as
a result of training, education, knowledge, and
experience in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment
of the disease or injury which is the subject matter of
the lawsuit against the defendant, the individual was
substantially familiar with applicable standards of
care and practice as they relate to the act or omission
which is the subject of the lawsuit on the date of the
incident.
(2) Physician review.--In a health care lawsuit, if the
claim of the plaintiff involved treatment that is recommended
or provided by a physician (allopathic or osteopathic), an
individual shall not be qualified to be an expert witness under
this subsection with respect to issues of negligence concerning
such treatment unless such individual is a physician.
(3) Specialties and subspecialties.--With respect to a
lawsuit described in paragraph (1), a court shall not permit an
expert in one medical specialty or subspecialty to testify
against a defendant in another medical specialty or
subspecialty unless, in addition to a showing of substantial
familiarity in accordance with paragraph (1)(B), there is a
showing that the standards of care and practice in the two
specialty or subspecialty fields are similar.
(4) Limitation.--The limitations in this subsection shall
not apply to expert witnesses testifying as to the degree or
permanency of medical or physical impairment.
SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS.
(a) In General.--The amount of any damages received by a claimant
in any health care lawsuit shall be reduced by the court by the amount
of any collateral source benefits to which the claimant is entitled,
less any insurance premiums or other payments made by the claimant (or
by the spouse, parent, child, or legal guardian of the claimant) to
obtain or secure such benefits.
(b) Preservation of Current Law.--Where a payor of collateral
source benefits has a right of recovery by reimbursement or subrogation
and such right is permitted under Federal or State law, subsection (a)
shall not apply.
(c) Application of Provision.--This section shall apply to any
health care lawsuit that is settled or resolved by a fact finder.
SEC. 8. PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
(a) Punitive Damages Permitted.--
(1) In general.--Punitive damages may, if otherwise
available under 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.
(2) Filing of 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.
(3) Separate proceeding.--At the request of any party in a
health care lawsuit, the trier of fact shall consider in a
separate proceeding--
(A) whether punitive damages are to be awarded and
the amount of such award; and
(B) 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.
(4) Limitation where no compensatory damages are awarded.--
In any health care lawsuit where no judgment for compensatory
damages is rendered against a person, no punitive damages may
be awarded with respect to the claim in such lawsuit against
such person.
(b) Determining Amount of Punitive Damages.--
(1) Factors considered.--In determining the amount of
punitive damages under this section, 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 awarded
in a health care lawsuit may not exceed an amount equal to two
times the amount of economic damages awarded in the lawsuit or
$250,000, whichever is greater. The jury shall not be informed
of the limitation under the preceding sentence.
(c) No Punitive Damages for Products That Comply With FDA
Standards.--
(1) In general.--No punitive damages may be awarded against
the manufacturer or distributor of a medical product based on a
claim that such product caused the claimant's harm where--
(A)(i) such medical product was subject to
premarket approval or clearance by the Food and Drug
Administration with respect to the safety of the
formulation or performance of the aspect of such
medical product which caused the claimant's harm or the
adequacy of the packaging or labeling of such medical
product; and
(ii) such medical product was so approved or
cleared; or
(B) such medical product is generally recognized
among qualified experts as safe and effective pursuant
to conditions established by the Food and Drug
Administration and applicable Food and Drug
Administration regulations, including without
limitation those related to packaging and labeling,
unless the Food and Drug Administration has determined
that such medical product was not manufactured or
distributed in substantial compliance with applicable
Food and Drug Administration statutes and regulations.
(2) Liability of health care providers.--A health care
provider who prescribes, or who dispenses pursuant to a
prescription, a drug or device (including blood products)
approved by the Food and Drug Administration shall not be named
as a party to a product liability lawsuit invoking such drug or
device and shall not be liable to a claimant in a class action
lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or product
seller of such drug or device.
(3) Packaging.--In a health care lawsuit for harm which is
alleged to relate to the adequacy of the packaging or labeling
of a drug which is required to have tamper-resistant packaging
under regulations of the Secretary (including labeling
regulations related to such packaging), the manufacturer or
product seller of the drug shall not be held liable for
punitive damages unless such packaging or labeling is found by
the trier of fact by clear and convincing evidence to be
substantially out of compliance with such regulations.
(4) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply in any health
care lawsuit in which--
(A) a person, before or after premarket approval or
clearance of such medical product, knowingly
misrepresented to or withheld from the Food and Drug
Administration information that is required to be
submitted under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or section 351 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) that is
material and is causally related to the harm which the
claimant allegedly suffered; or
(B) a person made an illegal payment to an official
of the Food and Drug Administration for the purpose of
either securing or maintaining approval or clearance of
such medical product.
SEC. 9. 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. 10. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
(a) Vaccine Injury.--
(1) In general.--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 shall 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) Exception.--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 shall 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.
(b) Preemption of Certain State Laws.--The provisions of this Act
shall preempt any constitutional provision, statute, or rule of State
law, whether enacted prior to, on, or after the date of enactment of
this Act, that--
(1) prohibits the application of any limitation on the
amount of compensatory, punitive, or total damages in a health
care lawsuit; or
(2) provides for a greater amount of compensatory,
punitive, or total damages in a health care lawsuit than those
provided for under this Act.
(c) Protection of State's Rights and Other Laws.--
(1) In general.--Any issue that is not governed by a
provision of law established by or under this Act (including
the State standards of negligence) shall be governed by
otherwise applicable Federal or State law.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to--
(A) preempt or supersede any Federal or State law
that imposes greater procedural or substantive
protections (such as a shorter statute of limitations)
for a health care provider, health care organization,
or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer,
promoter, or seller of a medical product from
liability, loss, or damages than those provided by this
Act;
(B) create a cause of action that is not otherwise
available under Federal or State law; or
(C) affect the scope of preemption of any other
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 enactment of this Act shall be governed
by the applicable statute of limitations provisions in effect at the
time the injury occurred.
Calendar No. 33
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 607
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
March 13, 2003
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
Introduced in Senate
Introduced 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. 33.
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