US Congress House Bill 2363 (Prior Session Legislation)

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June 24 2011 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Health Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Health Care OverUse Reform Today Act (HealthCOURT Act) of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide for the selection and issuance of best practice guidelines for treatment of medical conditions. Requires the Secretary to contract with a qualified physician consensus-building organization to develop guidelines and issue a rule that provides for the establishment of such guidelines. Prohibits the Secretary from making a rule that includes guidelines other than those submitted by such organization. Requires the Secretary to routinely review guidelines and, as necessary, enter into additional contracts to issue guidelines. Prohibits a court from awarding noneconomic damages or punitive damages in any health care lawsuit with respect to treatment that is consistent with a guideline issued under this Act. Prohibits guidelines from being introduced as evidence of negligence or deviation in the standard of care in any health care lawsuit unless such guidelines have previously been introduced by the defendant. Declares that there shall be no presumption of negligence if a health care provider provides treatment in a manner inconsistent with such guidelines. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to award grants to states for the development, implementation, and evaluation of administrative health care tribunals for the resolution of disputes concerning injuries allegedly caused by health care providers. Sets forth provisions governing the operation of such tribunals, including requiring a review of allegations by an expert panel to assess liability.

Health Care OverUse Reform Today Act (HealthCOURT Act) of 2011

Rep Price, Tom

Rep Palazzo, Steven M.

Date	Chamber	Action
2011-06-24	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2011-06-24	House	Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Type	Source
Summary	http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:HN02363:@@@L&summ2=m&
Text	http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2363ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr2363ih.pdf