United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 1215 (115th)
Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017
Introduced
24 February 2017
Last action
29 June 2017 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17]
Subjects
Healthcare, Taxation
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017 This bill establishes provisions governing health care lawsuits where coverage for the care was provided or subsidized by the federal government, including through a subsidy or tax benefit. The bill does not preempt certain state laws and federal vaccine injury laws and rules. The statute of limitations is three years after the injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, whichever occurs first. For a minor, the statute of limitations is three years after the injury, except for a minor under six years old, for whom it is three years after the injury, one year after discovery of the injury, or the minor's eighth birthday, whichever occurs later. These limitations are tolled under certain circumstances. Noneconomic damages are limited to $250,000. Juries may not be informed of this limitation. Parties are liable for the amount of damages directly proportional to their responsibility. These provisions do not preempt state laws that specify a particular monetary amount of damages. Courts must supervise the payment of damages and may restrict attorney contingency fees. The bill sets limits on contingency fees. Certain evidence regarding collateral source benefits (e.g., insurance payments) may be introduced in lawsuits involving injury or wrongful death. Providers of collateral source benefits may not recover any amount from the claimant in such a lawsuit. These provisions do not apply if Medicare is a secondary payer or there is third party liability for Medicaid services. The bill provides for periodic payment of future damage awards. A health care provider who prescribes, or dispenses pursuant to a prescription, a medical product approved by the Food and Drug Administration may not be a party to a product liability lawsuit or a class action lawsuit regarding the medical product.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
24 February 2017
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Source: Committee
24 February 2017
Introduced
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.
Source: IntroReferral
24 February 2017
Introduced
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.
Source: IntroReferral
24 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
24 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 February 2017
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 17.
Source: Committee
28 February 2017
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
3 March 2017
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Source: Committee
22 March 2017
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 31.
Source: Calendars
22 March 2017
Discharge
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Source: Discharge
22 March 2017
Committee
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Source: Committee
22 March 2017
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-55, Part I.
Source: Committee
22 March 2017
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-55, Part I.
Source: Committee
13 June 2017
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 382 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1215 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. The resolution makes in order as original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-10. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in the report.
Source: Floor
27 June 2017
Passed
Rule H. Res. 382 passed House.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Vote
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 218 - 210 (Roll no. 337).
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 218 - 210 (Roll no. 337).
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 191 - 235 (Roll no. 336).
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
Ms. Kuster (NH) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H5275)
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Passed
The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1215.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1215 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order. The resolution makes in order as original text for purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-10. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in the report.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 382 and Rule XVIII.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Garret Graves to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
28 June 2017
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 382. (consideration: CR H5263-5287; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5273-5275)
Source: Floor
29 June 2017
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
28 June 2017 · passed · On Passage · Passed · Official source
Yes 218 · No 210 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 6
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Aye
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]No
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]No
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]Aye
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
28 June 2017 · failed · On Motion to Recommit with Instructions · Failed · Official source
Yes 191 · No 235 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 7
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]No
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Aye
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]Aye
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]No
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 29 June 2017 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 28 June 2017 · Download file
- Reported in House · 22 March 2017 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 24 February 2017 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 29 June 2017
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 29 June 2017
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 28 June 2017
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 28 June 2017
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 28 June 2017
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 22 March 2017
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 22 March 2017
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Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 22 March 2017
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 24 February 2017
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 24 February 2017
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 24 February 2017
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17] · R · Cosponsor
- · ssju00 · Standing
- · hsif00 · Standing
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to ← ACCESS Act of 2017
- related to ← Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1215) 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.
- amends ← An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 115-179 to begin the tolling of the statute of limitations on the date of the alleged breach or tort, rather than the date of the injury, which is not always a date certain. The statute of limits will be three years after the alleged breach or one year after the claimant discovers the breach, whichever occurs first.
- amends ← An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 115-179 to clarify that health care services as defined in H.R. 1215 include safety, professional, and administrative services directly related to health care.
- amends ← An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 115-179 to limit who qualifies as an expert witness in medical malpractice negligence cases, based on professional qualifications as well as geographic relation to where the case in chief is being litigated.
- amends ← Amendment allows a physician to apologize to a patient for an unintended outcome without having the apology count against them in the court of law. The amendment requires a plaintiff to provide a notice of intent to the physician 90 days before the lawsuit is filed. Finally, the amendment defers to sundry state laws regarding lawsuits and outlines requirements witnesses must meet for testimony during trial.
- amends ← Amendment sought to give affirmative defense to defendants in health care liability cases if they can show they complied with clinical practice guidelines.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1215
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/115/hr/1215
- us · 115-hr-1215 · source updated 10 August 2026