Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011
This bill died when its Congress ended.
Bills don't carry over between Congresses. Without re-introduction in a new session, it cannot advance.
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011 - Sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions. Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility. Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded. Allows the introduction of collateral source benefits and the amount paid to secure such benefits as evidence. Prohibits a provider of such benefits from recovering any amount from an award in a health care lawsuit involving injury or wrongful death. Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000. Denies punitive damages in the case of products approved, cleared, or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or otherwise considered in compliance with FDA standards. Provides for periodic payments of future damages.
Filed in the Senate
This senate bill has been filed and is working its way through Congress. It will need to pass both the Senate and the House, then be signed by the President to become law.
Who introduced this
Ask AI About This Bill
Get plain-language answers with direct quotes from the bill text.
Your Representatives
Enter your address to see how your representatives voted on this bill.
Your address is only used to find your district and is never saved. See how it works
Votes
Public Opinion
No votes yet — be the first to weigh in.
to cast your vote
Your voice matters — let representatives know where you stand.
Comments
No comments yet. to be the first to weigh in.