House Resolution 4600 - Medical Liability Reform

     House Resolution 4600, a new bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of  Representatives, may reform the current national medical liability system.  Jim Greenwood (R-PA) and Chris Cox (R-CA) sponsor the bipartisan bill, HEALTH (Help Efficient Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Health Care) Act.

     The bill includes the following reforms:

-Limits the number of years a plaintiff has to file a health-care liability action to ensure that claims are brought before evidence is destroyed and while witnesses are available and memories fresh

-Holds defendants jointly liable, so damages are fairly allocated, in proportion to a party's degree of fault and considering payments already made

-Places reasonable limits on punitive damages

-Allows the money for future medical expenses to be paid periodically rather than in one lump sum

-Allows states that have enacted damages caps to retain such caps

  The AMC/NOMA supports tort reform at the federal level and we will continue to monitor the progress of this bill while pushing for judicial and tort reform in Ohio as well.