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HR 4771 114th Congress House

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016

Official title: To improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system.

Introduced: March 17, 2016 See on congress.gov
Health Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationCivil actions and liabilityEvidence and witnessesHealth care costs and insurance
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Health care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth personnelHealth technology, devices, suppliesJudicial procedure and administrationLawyers and legal servicesMedicarePrescription drugsProduct safety and quality
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 22, 2016
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 18, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 17, 2016
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 17, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 22, 2016

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016

This bill sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. Additionally, the bill 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.

The bill revises other provisions related to health care lawsuits including: (1) limiting noneconomic damages, (2) mandating joint and several liability, (3) limiting attorney contingency fees, (4) limiting punitive damages, and (5) denying punitive damages in the case of products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 4589 Related bill Excellence in Medicare Act
  • S 3291 Related bill Small Business Bill of Rights
 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. 4771: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4771/
MLA
"H.R. 4771: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4771/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4771, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4771/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4771: Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4771/)
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