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H.R. 1158 108th Congress House

Medical Liability Insurance Crisis Response Act of 2003

Official title: To modify the antitrust exemption applicable to the business of medical malpractice insurance, to address current issues for health care providers, to reform m… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To modify the antitrust exemption applicable to the business of medical malpractice insurance, to address current issues for health care providers, to reform medical malpractice litigation by making available alternative dispute resolution methods, requiring plaintiffs to submit affidavits of merit before proceeding, and enabling judgments to be satisfied through periodic payments, to reform the medical malpractice insurance market, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 6, 2003 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careAlternative dispute resolutionAntitrust lawBusiness records
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 31, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Mar 17, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Mar 6, 2003
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
Mar 6, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E406)
Mar 6, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 31, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Medical Liability Insurance Crisis Response Act of 2003 - Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act (antitrust) to exempt from the antitrust laws joint conduct concerning data, forms, manuals and the provision of medical malpractice insurance pursuant to a public necessity market mechanism or the administration of such mechanism in a State.

Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the prompt payment of claims.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to address the issue of the nursing shortage through the Nursing Workforce Development Student Loan Repayment program, the establishment of a National Nurse Corps Scholarship program, and other grant and scholarship programs to train and retain nurses.

Establishes an alternative dispute resolution system for medical malpractice cases which preempts other State and Federal law, excluding vaccine-related claims.

Mandates mediation before trial.

Requires certifications and affidavits by participating parties and attorneys that certain consultations and investigations have taken place and that their case is reasonable and meritorious. Imposes sanctions, including payment of attorney's fees and costs, for submitting false allegations.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint an Advisory Commission on Medical Malpractice. Limits the rate of increase in medical malpractice insurance rates to a specified maximum until after the Commission's report.

Addresses other medical malpractice insurance issues, including withdrawal from the market, guaranteed coverage and renewability, and disclosure.

Requires the Secretary to establish an interactive, secure Internet site to provide medical malpractice insurance quotes.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to add deductions for premiums for medical liability insurance for: (1) high risk specialties; and (2) practices serving medically underserved communities.

Amends the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 to mandate equal treatment between traditional insurers and risk retention groups.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1158: Medical Liability Insurance Crisis Response Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1158/
MLA
"H.R. 1158: Medical Liability Insurance Crisis Response Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1158/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1158, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1158/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1158: Medical Liability Insurance Crisis Response Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1158/)
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