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S 2061 108th Congress Senate

Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to improve women's health access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to improve women's health access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services.

Introduced: February 23, 2004 See on congress.gov
Health Accident insuranceCivil actions and liabilityCivil procedureCommerce
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Crime and Law EnforcementDamagesDisability insuranceDisabledDrug approvalsDrug industryEvidence (Law)Expert witnessesFamiliesFederal preemptionFinance and Financial SectorFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGynecologyHealth insuranceLabelingLawLegal feesLiability (Law)Limitation of actionsMedical malpracticeMedical personnelMedical suppliesMinorsObstetricsPackagingPhysiciansProducts liabilityProfitPunitive damagesSmallpoxSocial WelfareState lawsVaccinationVaccinesValuationWomenWomen's healthWorkers' compensation
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 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 24, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
Feb 24, 2004
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to consider the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 45. Record Vote Number: 15.
Feb 24, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S1467-1485, S1486-1487, S1487-1492, S1493-1503, S1505-1506)
Feb 23, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S1422-1431, S1432-1436, S1437-1438, S1442-1443, S1446-1447)
Feb 12, 2004
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.
Feb 12, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1401)
Feb 11, 2004
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 429.
Feb 10, 2004
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Feb 10, 2004
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 24, 2004

Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003 - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims related to the provision of obstetrical or gynecological goods or services.

Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions.

Allows the recovery of unlimited economic damages. Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility.

Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a percentage based on the amount awarded.

Prescribes qualifications for expert witnesses.

Permits the court to reduce damages received by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled.

Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000.

Limits the liability of manufacturers, distributors, and providers of obstetrical or gynecological products that comply with Food and Drug Administration standards.

Provides for periodic payments of future damage awards.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2061: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2061/
MLA
"S. 2061: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2061/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2061, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2061/.
Markdown link
[S. 2061: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2061/)
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