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HR 1219 108th Congress House

Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003

Official title: To limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits, to reform the medical malpractice insurance business in order to reduce the cost of medical malpractice insura… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits, to reform the medical malpractice insurance business in order to reduce the cost of medical malpractice insurance, to enhance patient access to medical care, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 18, 2003 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careAdministrative remediesAntitrust lawCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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Civil actions and liabilityCommerceComputer softwareConfidential communicationsCongressCongressional reporting requirementsConsumer complaintsConsumer educationContempt of courtEconomics and Public FinanceElectronic government informationEmergency ManagementEvidence (Law)Federal advisory bodiesFederal aid to health facilitiesFinance and Financial SectorFines (Penalties)Frivolous lawsuitsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGrants-in-aidGynecologyInsurance companiesInsurance premiumsInternetInvestment of public fundsLawLawyersLegal ethicsLegal feesLiability insuranceLimitation of actionsMediationMedical malpracticeMedical personnelMedical recordsMedical technologyObstetricsPhysiciansPretrial procedurePrice fixingPublic health personnelPunitive damagesQuality of careRestrictive trade practicesRight of privacyScience, Technology, CommunicationsSurgeonsTechnological innovationsTrauma careTrusts and trusteesWeb sitesWomen
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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Mar 12, 2003
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.
Mar 12, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 24, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003 - Declares that medical malpractice actions shall be barred unless the complaint is within three years after the right of action accrues. Sets forth criteria for determining the date on which the right of action accrues.

Prohibits any individual from bringing a medical malpractice liability action unless it is accompanied by the affidavit of a qualified specialist attesting to the reasonableness of the filing. Requires the attorney of a person filing such an action, or the individual if there is no attorney, to sign a certificate of merit attesting to the justified nature of the action.

Directs courts to impose sanctions for violations of the provisions pertaining to the certificate of merit, including to issue fines for multiple offenders.

Requires mediation, to be made available by the State, before a trial for any medical malpractice liability action.

Prohibits punitive damages from being awarded in a medical malpractice action except upon proof of gross negligence, reckless indifference to life, or one of various types of intentional acts.

Requires medical malpractice liability insurance companies to implement a plan to dedicate at least 50 percent of the annual savings from carrying out this section to reducing malpractice premiums. Imposes a civil penalty on medical malpractice liability insurance companies that violate this section.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants or contracts to geographic areas that have shortages of one or more types of health providers due to the cost of maintaining malpractice insurance.

Establishes the Independent Advisory Commission on Medical Malpractice Insurance, which shall investigate the recent dramatic increases in medical malpractice insurance premiums and formulate proposals to reduce such premiums.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1219: Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1219/
MLA
"H.R. 1219: Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1219/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1219, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1219/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1219: Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1219/)
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