On February 16, the House Judiciary Committee passed out of committee H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011, a medical liability reform bill. The committee vote was 18-15, with all Republicans voting in favor of the legislation and all Democrats voting in opposition. Among other provisions, the legislation would cap non-economic damages at $250,000 and would make each party liable for only the amount of damages that are directly proportional to that party’s percentage of responsibility. Congressman Bobby Scott’s (D-VA) amendment removing collateral source rule reform from the legislation was the only amendment accepted by the committee. The legislation is considered one of the top priorities for the new House Republican leadership. The timing for consideration of the legislation by the full House of Representatives has not yet been announced.
Click here to read a letter ASA co-signed in support of H.R. 5.
ASA has joined the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA). Click here to visit the website.