[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1625 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1625

    To improve access to fair compensation for those injured while 
  receiving medical care and to increase availability of health care 
 services by reducing the costs of both medical malpractice liability 
                    premiums and defensive medicine.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 1, 1993

Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. Archer, and Mr. Gingrich) 
   introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the 
  Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To improve access to fair compensation for those injured while 
  receiving medical care and to increase availability of health care 
 services by reducing the costs of both medical malpractice liability 
                    premiums and defensive medicine.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be 
cited as the ``Medical Malpractice Liability Reform Act of 1993''.

                       Part 1--General Provisions

SEC. 101. FEDERAL REFORM OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LIABILITY ACTIONS.

    (a) Congressional Findings.--
            (1) Effect on interstate commerce.--Congress finds that the 
        health care and insurance industries are industries affecting 
        interstate commerce and the medical malpractice litigation 
        systems existing throughout the United States affect interstate 
        commerce by contributing to the high cost of health care and 
        premiums for malpractice insurance purchased by health care 
        providers.
            (2) Effect on federal spending.--Congress finds that the 
        medical malpractice litigation systems existing throughout the 
        United States have a significant effect on the amount, 
        distribution, and use of Federal funds because of--
                    (A) the large number of individuals who receive 
                health care benefits under programs operated or 
                financed by the Federal Government;
                    (B) the large number of individuals who benefit 
                because of the exclusion from Federal taxes of the 
                amounts spent by their employers to provide them with 
                health insurance benefits;
                    (C) the large number of health care providers and 
                health care professionals who provide items or services 
                for which the Federal Government makes payments; and
                    (D) the large number of such providers and 
                professionals who have received direct or indirect 
                financial assistance from the Federal Government 
                because of their status as such professionals or 
                providers.
    (b) Applicability.--This subtitle shall apply with respect to any 
medical malpractice liability claim and to any medical malpractice 
liability action brought in any State or Federal court, except that 
this subtitle shall not apply to--
            (1) a claim or action for damages arising from a vaccine-
        related injury or death to the extent that title XXI of the 
        Public Health Service Act applies to the action; or
            (2) a claim or action in which the plaintiff's sole 
        allegation is an allegation of an injury arising from the use 
        of a medical product.
    (c) Preemption of State Law.--Subject to section 121, this subtitle 
supersedes State law only to the extent that State law differs from any 
provision of law established by or under this subtitle. Any issue that 
is not governed by any provision of law established by or under this 
subtitle shall be governed by otherwise applicable State or Federal 
law.
    (d) Federal Court Jurisdiction Not Established on Federal Question 
Grounds.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to establish any 
jurisdiction in the district courts of the United States over medical 
malpractice liability actions on the basis of sections 1331 or 1337 of 
title 28, United States Code.

SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this subtitle:
            (1) Alternative dispute resolution system; ADR.--The term 
        ``alternative dispute resolution system'' or ``ADR'' means a 
        system established by a State that provides for the resolution 
        of medical malpractice liability claims in a manner other than 
        through medical malpractice liability actions.
            (2) Claimant.--The term ``claimant'' means any person who 
        alleges a medical malpractice liability claim, or, in the case 
        of an individual who is deceased, incompetent, or a minor, the 
        person on whose behalf such a claim is alleged.
            (3) Economic damages.--The term ``economic damages'' means 
        damages paid to compensate an individual for losses for 
        hospital and other medical expenses, lost wages, lost 
        employment, and other pecuniary losses.
            (4) Health care professional.--The term ``health care 
        professional'' means any individual who provides health care 
        services in a State and who is required by State law or 
        regulation to be licensed or certified by the State to provide 
        such services in the State.
            (5) Health care provider.--The term ``health care 
        provider'' means any organization or institution that is 
        engaged in the delivery of health care services in a State and 
        that is required by State law or regulation to be licensed or 
        certified by the State to engage in the delivery of such 
        services in the State.
            (6) Injury.--The term ``injury'' means any illness, 
        disease, or other harm that is the subject of a medical 
        malpractice liability action or claim.
            (7) Medical malpractice liability action.--The term 
        ``medical malpractice liability action'' means a civil action 
        (other than an action in which the plaintiff's sole allegation 
        is an allegation of an intentional tort) brought in a State or 
        Federal court against a health care provider or health care 
        professional (regardless of the theory of liability on which 
        the action is based) in which the plaintiff alleges a medical 
        malpractice liability claim.
            (8) Medical malpractice liability claim.--The term 
        ``medical malpractice liability claim'' means a claim in which 
        the claimant alleges that injury was caused by the provision of 
        (or the failure to provide) health care services.
            (9) Medical product.--The term ``medical product'' means a 
        device (as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, 
        and Cosmetic Act) or a drug (as defined in section 201(g)(1) of 
        the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).
            (10) Noneconomic damages.--The term ``noneconomic damages'' 
        means damages paid to compensate an individual for losses for 
        physical and emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical 
        impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of 
        life, loss of consortium, and other nonpecuniary losses, but 
        does not include punitive damages.
            (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (12) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

SEC. 103. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b) and sections 
119, 142, and 143, this subtitle shall apply with respect to claims 
accruing or actions brought on or after the expiration of the 3-year 
period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Exception for States Requesting Earlier Implementation of 
Reforms.--
            (1) Application.--A State may submit an application to the 
        Secretary requesting the early implementation of this subtitle 
        with respect to claims or actions brought in the State.
            (2) Decision by secretary.--The Secretary shall issue a 
        response to a State's application under paragraph (1) not later 
        than 90 days after receiving the application. If the Secretary 
        determines that the State meets the requirements of this 
        subtitle at the time of submitting its application, the 
        Secretary shall approve the State's application, and this 
        subtitle shall apply with respect to actions brought in the 
        State on or after the expiration of the 90-day period that 
        begins on the date the Secretary issues the response. If the 
        Secretary denies the State's application, the Secretary shall 
        provide the State with a written explanation of the grounds for 
        the decision.

  Part 2--Uniform Standards For Medical Malpractice Liability Actions

SEC. 111. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

    (a) In General.--No medical malpractice liability claim may be 
brought after the expiration of the 2-year period that begins on the 
date the alleged injury that is the subject of the action should 
reasonably have been discovered, but in no event after the expiration 
of the 4-year period that begins on the date the alleged injury 
occurred.
    (b) Exception for Minors.--In the case of an alleged injury 
suffered by a minor who has not attained 6 years of age, no medical 
malpractice liability claim may be brought after the expiration of the 
2-year period that begins on the date the alleged injury that is the 
subject of the action should reasonably have been discovered, but in no 
event after the date on which the minor attains 10 years of age.

SEC. 112. REQUIREMENT FOR INITIAL RESOLUTION OF ACTION THROUGH 
              ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

    (a) In General.--No medical malpractice liability action may be 
brought in any State court during a calendar year unless the medical 
malpractice liability claim that is the subject of the action has been 
initially resolved under an alternative dispute resolution system 
certified for the year by the Secretary under section 132(a), or, in 
the case of a State in which such a system is not in effect for the 
year, under the alternative Federal system established under section 
132(b).
    (b) Initial Resolution of Claims Under ADR.--For purposes of 
subsection (a), an action is ``initially resolved'' under an 
alternative dispute resolution system if--
            (1) the ADR reaches a decision on whether the defendant is 
        liable to the plaintiff for damages; and
            (2) if the ADR determines that the defendant is liable, the 
        ADR reaches a decision on the amount of damages assessed 
        against the defendant.
    (c) Procedures for Filing Actions.--
            (1) Notice of intent to contest decision.--Not later than 
        60 days after a decision is issued with respect to a medical 
        malpractice liability claim under an alternative dispute 
        resolution system, each party affected by the decision shall 
        submit a sealed statement to a court of competent jurisdiction 
        indicating whether or not the party intends to contest the 
        decision.
            (2) Deadline for filing action.--No medical malpractice 
        liability action may be brought unless the action is filed in a 
        court of competent jurisdiction not later than 90 days after 
        the decision resolving the medical malpractice liability claim 
        that is the subject of the action is issued under the 
        applicable alternative dispute resolution system.
            (3) Court of competent jurisdiction.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``court of competent jurisdiction'' 
        means--
                    (A) with respect to actions filed in a State court, 
                the appropriate State trial court; and
                    (B) with respect to actions filed in a Federal 
                court, the appropriate United States district court.
    (d) Effect of ADR Decision on Burden of Proof in Subsequent 
Action.--In any medical malpractice liability action, the trier of fact 
shall uphold the decision made under the previous alternative dispute 
resolution system with respect to the claim that is the subject of the 
action unless the party contesting the decision proves by a 
preponderance of the evidence that the decision was incorrect.
    (e) Legal Effect of Uncontested ADR Decision.--The decision reached 
under an alternative dispute resolution system shall, for purposes of 
enforcement by a court of competent jurisdiction, have the same status 
in the court as the verdict of a medical malpractice liability action 
adjudicated in a State or Federal trial court. The previous sentence 
shall not apply to a decision that is contested by a party affected by 
the decision pursuant to subsection (c)(1).

SEC. 113. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS FOR RESOLUTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST 
              UNITED STATES.

    The Attorney General shall establish an alternative dispute 
resolution process for the resolution of tort claims consisting of 
medical malpractice liability claims brought against the United States 
under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Under such process, the resolution 
of the claim shall occur after the completion of the administrative 
claim process applicable to the claim under section 2675 of title 28, 
United States Code.

SEC. 114. MANDATORY PRE-TRIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE.

    (a) In General.--Before the beginning of the trial phase of any 
medical malpractice liability action, the parties shall attend a 
conference called by the court for purposes of determining whether 
grounds exist upon which the parties may negotiate a settlement for the 
action.
    (b) Requiring Parties to Submit Settlement Offers.--At the 
conference called pursuant to subsection (a), each party to a medical 
malpractice liability action shall present an offer of settlement for 
the action.

SEC. 115. CALCULATION AND PAYMENT OF DAMAGES.

    (a) Limitation on Noneconomic Damages.--The total amount of 
noneconomic damages that may be awarded to a plaintiff and the members 
of the plaintiff's family for losses resulting from the injury which is 
the subject of a medical malpractice liability action may not exceed 
$250,000, regardless of the number of parties against whom the action 
is brought or the number of actions brought with respect to the injury.
    (b) Treatment of Punitive Damages.--
            (1) Limitation on amount.--The total amount of punitive 
        damages that may be imposed under a medical malpractice 
        liability action may not exceed twice the total of the damages 
        awarded to the plaintiff and the members of the plaintiff's 
        family.
            (2) Payments to state for medical quality assurance 
        activities.--
                    (A) In general.--Any punitive damages imposed under 
                a medical malpractice liability action shall be paid to 
                the State in which the action is brought.
                    (B) Activities described.--A State shall use amount 
                paid pursuant to subparagraph (A) to carry out 
                activities to assure the safety and quality of health 
                care services provided in the State, including (but not 
                limited to)--
                            (i) licensing or certifying health care 
                        professionals and health care providers in the 
                        State;
                            (ii) operating alternative dispute 
                        resolution systems;
                            (iii) carrying out public education 
                        programs relating to medical malpractice and 
                        the availability of alternative dispute 
                        resolution systems in the State; and
                            (iv) carrying out programs to reduce 
                        malpractice-related costs for retired providers 
                        or other providers volunteering to provide 
                        services in medically underserved areas.
                    (C) Maintenance of effort.--A State shall use any 
                amounts paid pursuant to subparagraph (A) to supplement 
                and not to replace amounts spent by the State for the 
                activities described in subparagraph (B).
    (c) Periodic Payments for Future Losses.--If more than $100,000 in 
damages for expenses to be incurred in the future is awarded to the 
plaintiff in a medical malpractice liability action, the defendant 
shall provide for payment for such damages on a periodic basis 
determined appropriate by the court (based upon projections of when 
such expenses are likely to be incurred), unless the court determines 
that it is not in the plaintiff's best interest to receive payments for 
such damages on such a periodic basis.
    (d) Mandatory Offsets for Damages Paid by a Collateral Source.--
            (1) In general.--The total amount of damages received by a 
        plaintiff in a medical malpractice liability action shall be 
        reduced (in accordance with paragraph (2)) by any other payment 
        that has been or will be made to the individual to compensate 
        the plaintiff for the injury that was the subject of the 
        action, including payment under--
                    (A) Federal or State disability or sickness 
                programs;
                    (B) Federal, State, or private health insurance 
                programs;
                    (C) private disability insurance programs;
                    (D) employer wage continuation programs; and
                    (E) any other source of payment intended to 
                compensate the plaintiff for such injury.
            (2) Amount of reduction.--The amount by which an award of 
        damages to a plaintiff shall be reduced under paragraph (1) 
        shall be--
                    (A) the total amount of any payments (other than 
                such award) that have been made or that will be made to 
                the plaintiff to compensate the plaintiff for the 
                injury that was the subject of the action; minus
                    (B) the amount paid by the plaintiff (or by the 
                spouse, parent, or legal guardian of the plaintiff) to 
                secure the payments described in subparagraph (A).

SEC. 116. TREATMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND OTHER COSTS.

    (a) Limitation on Attorney's Fees.--If the plaintiff in a medical 
malpractice liability action has entered into an agreement with the 
plaintiff's attorney to pay the attorney's fees on a contingency basis, 
the attorney's fees for the action may not exceed--
            (1) 25 percent of the first $150,000 of any award or 
        settlement paid to the plaintiff; or
            (2) 15 percent of any additional amounts paid to the 
        plaintiff.
    (b) Requiring Party Contesting ADR Ruling To Pay Attorney's Fees 
and Other Costs.--
            (1) In general.--The court in a medical malpractice 
        liability action shall require the party that (pursuant to 
        section 112(c)(1)) contested the ruling of the alternative 
        dispute resolution system with respect to the medical 
        malpractice liability claim that is the subject of the action 
        to pay to the opposing party the costs incurred by the opposing 
        party under the action, including attorney's fees, fees paid to 
        expert witnesses, and other litigation expenses (but not 
        including court costs, filing fees, or other expenses paid 
        directly by the party to the court, or any fees or costs 
        associated with the resolution of the claim under the 
        alternative dispute resolution system), but only if--
                    (A) in the case of an action in which the party 
                that contested the ruling is the plaintiff, the amount 
                of damages awarded to the party under the action does 
                not exceed the amount of damages awarded to the party 
                under the ADR system by at least 10 percent; and
                    (B) in the case of an action in which the party 
                that contested the ruling is the defendant, the amount 
                of damages assessed against the party under the action 
                is not at least 10 percent less than the amount of 
                damages assessed under the ADR system.
            (2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if--
                    (A) the party contesting the ruling made under the 
                previous alternative dispute resolution system shows 
                that--
                            (i) the ruling was procured by corruption, 
                        fraud, or undue means,
                            (ii) there was partiality or corruption 
                        under the system,
                            (iii) there was other misconduct under the 
                        system that materially prejudiced the party's 
                        rights, or
                            (iv) the ruling was based on an error of 
                        law;
                    (B) the party contesting the ruling made under the 
                previous alternative dispute resolution system presents 
                new evidence before the trier of fact that was not 
                available for presentation under the ADR system;
                    (C) the medical malpractice liability action raised 
                a novel issue of law; or
                    (D) the court finds that the application of such 
                paragraph to a party would constitute an undue 
                hardship, and issues an order waiving or modifying the 
                application of such paragraph that specifies the 
                grounds for the court's decision.

SEC. 117. JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.

    The liability of each defendant in a medical malpractice liability 
action shall be several only and shall not be joint, and each defendant 
shall be liable only for the amount of damages allocated to the 
defendant in direct proportion to the defendant's percentage of 
responsibility (as determined by the trier of fact).

SEC. 118. UNIFORM STANDARD FOR DETERMINING NEGLIGENCE.

    Except as provided in subsection (b), a defendant in a medical 
malpractice liability action may not be found to have acted negligently 
unless the defendant's conduct at the time of providing the health care 
services that are the subject of the action was not reasonable.

SEC. 119. APPLICATION OF MEDICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES IN MALPRACTICE 
              LIABILITY ACTIONS.

    (a) Use of Guidelines as Affirmative Defense.--In any medical 
malpractice liability action, it shall be a complete defense to any 
allegation that the defendant was negligent that, in the provision of 
(or the failure to provide) the services that are the subject of the 
action, the defendant followed the appropriate practice guideline.
    (b) Restriction on Guidelines Considered Appropriate.--
            (1) Guidelines sanctioned by secretary.--For purposes of 
        subsection (a), a practice guideline may not be considered 
        appropriate with respect to actions brought during a year 
        unless the Secretary has sanctioned the use of the guideline 
        for purposes of an affirmative defense to medical malpractice 
        liability actions brought during the year in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) or (3).
            (2) Process for sanctioning guidelines.--Not less 
        frequently than October 1 of each year (beginning with 1994), 
        the Secretary shall review the practice guidelines and 
        standards developed by the Administrator for Health Care Policy 
        and Research pursuant to section 1142 of the Social Security 
        Act, and shall sanction those guidelines which the Secretary 
        considers appropriate for purposes of an affirmative defense to 
        medical malpractice liability actions brought during the next 
        calendar year as appropriate practice guidelines for purposes 
        of subsection (a).
            (3) Use of state guidelines.--Upon the application of a 
        State, the Secretary may sanction practice guidelines selected 
        by the State for purposes of an affirmative defense to medical 
        malpractice liability actions brought in the State as 
        appropriate practice guidelines for purposes of subsection (a) 
        if the guidelines meet such requirements as the Secretary may 
        impose.
    (c) Prohibiting Application of Failure To Follow Guidelines as 
Prima Facie Evidence of Negligence.--No plaintiff in a medical 
malpractice liability action may be deemed to have presented prima 
facie evidence that a defendant was negligent solely by showing that 
the defendant failed to follow the appropriate practice guideline.

SEC. 120. SPECIAL PROVISION FOR CERTAIN OBSTETRIC SERVICES.

    (a) Imposition of Higher Standard of Proof.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of a medical malpractice 
        liability action relating to services provided during labor or 
        the delivery of a baby, if the defendant health care 
        professional did not previously treat the plaintiff for the 
        pregnancy, the trier of fact may not find that the defendant 
        committed malpractice and may not assess damages against the 
        defendant unless the malpractice is proven by clear and 
        convincing evidence.
            (2) Applicability to group practices or agreements among 
        providers.--For purposes of paragraph (1), a health care 
        professional shall be considered to have previously treated an 
        individual for a pregnancy if the professional is a member of a 
        group practice whose members previously treated the individual 
        for the pregnancy or is providing services to the individual 
        during labor or the delivery of a baby pursuant to an agreement 
        with another professional.
    (b) Clear and Convincing Evidence Defined.--In subsection (a), the 
term ``clear and convincing evidence'' is that measure or degree of 
proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief 
or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be 
established, except that such measure or degree of proof is more than 
that required under preponderance of the evidence, but less than that 
required for proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply to claims accruing or 
actions brought on or after the expiration of the 2-year period that 
begins on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 121. PREEMPTION.

    (a) In General.--This part supersedes any State law only to the 
extent that State law--
            (1) permits the recovery of a greater amount of damages by 
        a plaintiff;
            (2) permits the collection of a greater amount of 
        attorneys' fees by a plaintiff's attorney;
            (3) establishes a longer period during which a medical 
        malpractice liability claim may be initiated; or
            (4) establishes a stricter standard for determining whether 
        a defendant was negligent or for determining the liability of 
        defendants described in section 120(a) in actions described in 
        such section.
    (b) Effect on Sovereign Immunity and Choice of Law or Venue.--
Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to--
            (1) waive or affect any defense of sovereign immunity 
        asserted by any State under any provision of law;
            (2) waive or affect any defense of sovereign immunity 
        asserted by the United States;
            (3) affect the applicability of any provision of the 
        Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976;
            (4) preempt State choice-of-law rules with respect to 
        claims brought by a foreign nation or a citizen of a foreign 
        nation; or
            (5) affect the right of any court to transfer venue or to 
        apply the law of a foreign nation or to dismiss a claim of a 
        foreign nation or of a citizen of a foreign nation on the 
        ground of inconvenient forum.

 Part 3--Requirements for Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems (ADR)

SEC. 131. BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--A State's alternative dispute resolution system 
meets the requirements of this section if the system--
            (1) applies to all medical malpractice liability claims 
        under the jurisdiction of the State courts;
            (2) requires that a written opinion resolving the dispute 
        be issued not later than 6 months after the date by which each 
        party against whom the claim is filed has received notice of 
        the claim (other than in exceptional cases for which a longer 
        period is required for the issuance of such an opinion), and 
        that the opinion contain--
                    (A) findings of fact relating to the dispute, and
                    (B) a description of the costs incurred in 
                resolving the dispute under the system (including any 
                fees paid to the individuals hearing and resolving the 
                claim), together with an appropriate assessment of the 
                costs against any of the parties;
            (3) requires individuals who hear and resolve claims under 
        the system to meet such qualifications as the State may require 
        (in accordance with regulations of the Secretary);
            (4) is approved by the State or by local governments in the 
        State;
            (5) with respect to a State system that consists of 
        multiple dispute resolution procedures--
                    (A) permits the parties to a dispute to select the 
                procedure to be used for the resolution of the dispute 
                under the system, and
                    (B) if the parties do not agree on the procedure to 
                be used for the resolution of the dispute, assigns a 
                particular procedure to the parties;
            (6) provides for the transmittal to the State agency 
        responsible for monitoring or disciplining health care 
        professionals and health care providers of any findings made 
        under the system that such a professional or provider committed 
        malpractice, unless, during the 90-day period beginning on the 
        date the system resolves the claim against the professional or 
        provider, the professional or provider brings a medical 
        malpractice liability action contesting the decision made under 
        the system; and
            (7) provides for the regular transmittal to the 
        Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research of 
        information on disputes resolved under the system, in a manner 
        that assures that the identity of the parties to a dispute 
        shall not be revealed.
    (b) Application of Malpractice Liability Standards to Alternative 
Dispute Resolution.--The provisions of part 2 shall apply with respect 
to claims brought under a State alternative dispute resolution system 
or the alternative Federal system in the same manner as such provisions 
apply with respect to medical malpractice liability actions brought in 
the State.

SEC. 132. CERTIFICATION OF STATE SYSTEMS; APPLICABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE 
              FEDERAL SYSTEM.

    (a) Certification.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than October 1 of each year 
        (beginning with 1994), the Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Attorney General, shall determine whether a State's alternative 
        dispute resolution system meets the requirements of this part 
        for the following calendar year.
            (2) Basis for certification.--The Secretary shall certify a 
        State's alternative dispute resolution system under this 
        subsection for a calendar year if the Secretary determines 
        under paragraph (1) that the system meets the requirements of 
        section 131.
    (b) Applicability of Alternative Federal System.--
            (1) Establishment and applicability.--Not later than 
        October 1, 1994, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Attorney General, shall establish by rule an alternative 
        Federal ADR system for the resolution of medical malpractice 
        liability claims during a calendar year in States that do not 
        have in effect an alternative dispute resolution system 
        certified under subsection (a) for the year.
            (2) Requirements for system.--Under the alternative Federal 
        ADR system established under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) paragraphs (1), (2), (6), and (7) of section 
                131(a) shall apply to claims brought under the system;
                    (B) claims brought under the system shall be heard 
                and resolved by arbitrators appointed by the Secretary 
                in consultation with the Attorney General; and
                    (C) with respect to a State in which the system is 
                in effect, the Secretary may (at the State's request) 
                modify the system to take into account the existence of 
                dispute resolution procedures in the State that affect 
                the resolution of medical malpractice liability claims.

SEC. 133. REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE 
              DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report describing and evaluating State alternative dispute 
resolution systems operated pursuant to this part and the alternative 
Federal system established under section 132(b).
    (b) Contents of Report.--The Secretary shall include in the report 
prepared and submitted under subsection (a)--
            (1) information on--
                    (A) the effect of such systems on the cost of 
                health care within each State,
                    (B) the impact of such systems on the access of 
                individuals to health care within the State, and
                    (C) the effect of such systems on the quality of 
                health care provided within the State; and
            (2) to the extent that such report does not provide 
        information on no-fault systems operated by States as 
        alternative dispute resolution systems pursuant to this part, 
        an analysis of the feasibility and desirability of establishing 
        a system under which medical malpractice liability claims shall 
        be resolved on a no-fault basis.

                Part 4--Other Requirements and Programs

SEC. 141. FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF MEDICAL PRACTICE 
              GUIDELINES.

    (a) Increase in Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 
1142(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-12(i)(1)) is 
amended by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D) and by 
striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(E) $195,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 (of which 
                $10,000,000 shall be used for sanctioning practice 
                guidelines for purposes of an affirmative defense in 
                medical malpractice liability actions); and
                    ``(F) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal year 1995 and 
                1996, to be used for sanctioning practice guidelines 
                for purposes of an affirmative defense in medical 
                malpractice liability actions.''.
    (b) Consideration of Malpractice Liability Data in Developing and 
Updating Guidelines.--Section 1142(c)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
12(c)(5)) is amended by striking ``claims data'' and all that follows 
through ``patients'' and inserting the following: ``claims data, data 
on clinical and functional status of patients, and data on medical 
malpractice liability actions''.
    (c) Development of Reporting Forms for State ADR Systems.--The 
Secretary, in consulation with the Administrator for Health Care Policy 
and Research, shall develop a standard reporting form to be used by 
State alternative dispute resolution systems in transmitting 
information to the Administrator pursuant to section 131(a)(6) on 
disputes resolved under such systems.
    (d) Study of Effect of Guidelines on Medical Malpractice.--
            (1) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of the 
        effect of the use of the medical practice guidelines developed 
        by the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research on the 
        incidence of and the costs associated with medical malpractice.
            (2) Reports.--(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit an 
        interim report to Congress describing the availability and use 
        of medical practice guidelines and the aggregate costs 
        associated with medical malpractice.
            (B) Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on 
        the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with 
        recommendations regarding expanding the use of medical practice 
        guidelines for determining the liability of health care 
        professionals and health care providers for medical 
        malpractice.

SEC. 142. PERMITTING STATE PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES TO PARTICIPATE IN 
              DISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Role of Professional Societies.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of State or Federal law, a State agency responsible for the 
conduct of disciplinary actions for a type of health care practitioner 
may enter into agreements with State or county professional societies 
of such type of health care practitioner to permit such societies to 
participate in the licensing of such health care practitioner, and to 
review any health care malpractice action, health care malpractice 
claim or allegation, or other information concerning the practice 
patterns of any such health care practitioner. Any such agreement shall 
comply with subsection (b).
    (b) Requirements of Agreements.--Any agreement entered into under 
subsection (a) for licensing activities or the review of any health 
care malpractice action, health care malpractice claim or allegation, 
or other information concerning the practice patterns of a health care 
practitioner shall provide that--
            (1) the health care professional society conducts such 
        activities or review as expeditiously as possible;
            (2) after the completion of such review, such society shall 
        report its findings to the State agency with which it entered 
        into such agreement;
            (3) the conduct of such activities or review and the 
        reporting of such findings be conducted in a manner which 
        assures the preservation of confidentiality of health care 
        information and of the review process; and
            (4) no individual affiliated with such society is liable 
        for any damages or injury directly caused by the individual's 
        actions in conducting such activities or review.
    (c) Agreements Not Mandatory.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to require a State to enter into agreements with societies 
described in subsection (a) to conduct the activities described in such 
subsection.
    (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 143. REQUIREMENTS FOR RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Requirements for Providers.--Each State shall require each 
health care professional and health care provider providing services in 
the State to participate in a risk management program to prevent and 
provide early warning of practices which may result in injuries to 
patients or which otherwise may endanger patient safety.
    (b) Requirements for Insurers.--Each State shall require each 
entity which provides health care professional or provider liability 
insurance to health care professionals and health care providers in the 
State to--
            (1) establish risk management programs based on data 
        available to such entity or sanction programs of risk 
        management for health care professionals and health care 
        providers provided by other entities; and
            (2) require each such professional or provider, as a 
        condition of maintaining insurance, to participate in one 
        program described in paragraph (1) at least once in each 3-year 
        period.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 144. GRANTS FOR MEDICAL SAFETY PROMOTION.

    (a) Research on Medical Injury Prevention and Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants for the 
        conduct of basic research in the prevention of and compensation 
        for injuries resulting from health care professional or health 
        care provider malpractice, and research of the outcomes of 
        health care procedures.
            (2) Preference for research on certain activities.--In 
        making grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give 
        preference to applications for grants to conduct research on 
        the behavior of health care providers and health care 
        professionals in carrying out their professional duties and of 
        other participants in systems for compensating individuals 
        injured by medical malpractice, the effects of financial and 
        other incentives on such behavior, the determinants of 
        compensation system outcomes, and the costs and benefits of 
        alternative compensation policy options.
            (3) Application.--The Secretary may not make a grant under 
        paragraph (1) unless an applicant submits an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such form, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (b) Grants for Licensing and Disciplinary Activities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to States 
        to assist States in improving the States' ability to license 
        and discipline health care professionals.
            (2) Uses for grants.--A State may use a grant awarded under 
        subsection (a) to develop and implement improved mechanisms for 
        monitoring the practices of health care professionals or for 
        conducting disciplinary activities.
            (3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
        technical assistance to States receiving grants under paragraph 
        (1) to assist them in evaluating their medical practice acts 
        and procedures and to encourage the use of efficient and 
        effective early warning systems and other mechanisms for 
        detecting practices which endanger patient safety and for 
        disciplining health care professionals.
            (4) Applications.--The Secretary may not make a grant under 
        paragraph (1) unless the applicant submits an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such form, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary shall require.
    (c) Grants for Public Education Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to States 
        and to local governments, private nonprofit organizations, and 
        health professional schools (as defined in paragraph (3)) for--
                    (A) educating the general public about the 
                appropriate use of health care and realistic 
                expectations of medical intervention;
                    (B) educating the public about the resources and 
                role of health care professional licensing and 
                disciplinary boards in investigating claims of 
                incompetence or health care malpractice; and
                    (C) developing programs of faculty training and 
                curricula for educating health care professionals in 
                quality assurance, risk management, and medical injury 
                prevention.
            (2) Applications.--The Secretary may not make a grant under 
        paragraph (1) unless the applicant submits an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such form, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary shall require.
            (3) Health professional school defined.--In paragraph (1), 
        the term ``health professional school'' means a school of 
        nursing (as defined in section 853(2) of the Public Health 
        Service Act) or an institution described in section 701(4) of 
        such Act.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated not more than $15,000,000 for each of the first 5 fiscal 
years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act for 
grants under this section.

SEC. 145. STUDY OF BARRIERS TO VOLUNTARY SERVICE BY PHYSICIANS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the 
factors preventing or discouraging physicians (whether practicing or 
retired) from volunteering to provide health care services in medically 
underserved areas.
    (b) Reports.--(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit an interim report to 
Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with the 
Secretary's recommendations for actions to increase the number of 
physicians volunteering to proivde health care services in medically 
underserved areas.
    (2) Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall submit a final report to Congress on the study 
conducted under subsection (a) (taking into account the effects of this 
subtitle on the incidence and costs of medical malpractice), together 
with the Secretary's recommendations for actions to increase the number 
of physicians volunteering to provide health care services in medically 
underserved areas.

                                 <all>

HR 1625 IH----2