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S 22 109th Congress Senate Law Alternative dispute resolution Civil procedure Commerce Conflict of interests Damages Disability insurance Disabled Expert witnesses Federal preemption Finance and Financial Sector Frivolous lawsuits Government Operations and Politics Health Health insurance Indemnity Labor and Employment Legal ethics Legal fees Liability (Law)

MCAP Act

Introduced: May 3, 2006 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 8, 2006
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S4123-4146)
May 8, 2006
Cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 42. Record Vote Number: 115. (consideration: CR S4146; text: CR S4146)
May 5, 2006
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4096-4106)
May 5, 2006
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4095: text: CR S4095)
May 5, 2006
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4095)
May 5, 2006
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
May 4, 2006
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 422.
May 4, 2006
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4033-4034)
May 3, 2006
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
May 3, 2006
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2006 or the MCAP Act - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims related to the provision of health care 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.

Requires a court to impose sanctions for the filing of frivolous lawsuits.

Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000 from the provider or health care institution, but no more than $500,000 from multiple health care institutions. 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 decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded.

Prescribes qualifications for expert witnesses.

Requires the court to reduce damages received by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled, unless the payor of such benefits has the right to reimbursement or subrogation under federal or state law.

Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence 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.

Prohibits a health care provider from being named as a party in a product liability or class action lawsuit for prescribing or dispensing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drug, biological product, or medical device for an approved indication.

Provides for periodic payments of future damage awards.

What's happening now May 8, 2006

Cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 42. Record Vote Number: 115. (consideration: CR S4146; text: CR S4146)