WASHINGTON—A U.S. House committee has approved legislation that would reform medical malpractice law.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 30-20 Wednesday to approve the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care Act. H.R. 5 would limit noneconomic damages in medical malpractice awards to $250,000.
It also would limit punitive damages in medical malpractice awards to twice the economic damages or $250,000, whichever is greater.
The bill would set up a sliding scale for attorney contingency fees and permit the introduction of evidence of collateral-source benefits, such as Medicare or Medicaid, in malpractice cases to prevent double recovery.
The House Judiciary Committee approved its version of the measure in February.
WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill that would limit noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, among other things.