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HR 4600 107th Congress House Health Accident insurance Blood Bribery Civil actions and liability Collection of accounts Commerce Conflict of interests Contingency fees Crime and Law Enforcement Damages Disability insurance Disabled Drug approvals Drug industry Drugs Evidence (Law) Federal preemption Finance and Financial Sector Fraud

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002

Introduced: April 25, 2002 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 26, 2002
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 26, 2002
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 26, 2002
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 203 (Roll no. 421).
Sep 26, 2002
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 193 - 225 (Roll no. 420). (text: CR H6741)
Sep 26, 2002
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Sep 26, 2002
Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions.
Sep 26, 2002
Mr. Conyers moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary and Energy and Commerce.
Sep 26, 2002
The previous question was ordered on the bill as amended pursuant to the rule.
Sep 26, 2002
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4600.
Sep 26, 2002
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4600 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Sep 26, 2002
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 553. (consideration: CR H6720-6743; text of measure as reported in House: CR H6720-6725)
Sep 26, 2002
Rule H. Res. 553 passed House.
Sep 25, 2002
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 553 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4600 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Sep 25, 2002
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431.
Sep 25, 2002
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 107-693, Part II.
Sep 25, 2002
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-693, Part I.
Sep 18, 2002
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 22.
Sep 18, 2002
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 10, 2002
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 10, 2002
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 23, 2002
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 6, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Apr 25, 2002
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 25, 2002
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 26, 2002 House · vote #421 On Passage Passed 217–203 See who voted →
Sep 26, 2002 House · vote #420 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 193–225 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 606 — An amendment considered as adopted pursuant the provisions of the rule. Agreed to Sep 26, 2002
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002 - Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care law suits.

Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first.

Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule.

Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees.

Permits the introduction of evidence of collateral source benefits.

Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits their award for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, absent material and knowing misrepresentation by those submitting required approval or clearance information to the FDA.

Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants.

Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Preempts State law unless such law imposes greater protections for health care providers and organizations from liability, loss, or damages.

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What's happening now September 26, 2002

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 2793 Identical bill Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002
  • HRES 553 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4600) to improve patient access to health care services and provide impro…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 8
R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Sep 4, 2002
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jul 24, 2002
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Jul 17, 2002
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Jun 19, 2002
 R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Jun 13, 2002
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 16, 2002
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Apr 30, 2002
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Apr 30, 2002
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4600: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-4600/
MLA
"H.R. 4600: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-4600/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4600, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-4600/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4600: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2002](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-4600/)
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