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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5 (108th)

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

5 February 2003

Last action

21 March 2003 · Calendars

Status

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 49.

Sponsors

Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8], Rep. Murtha, John P. [D-PA-12], Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48], Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5], Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3], Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-21], Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [R-VA-5], Rep. Ferguson, Mike [R-NJ-7], Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Rep. Feeney, Tom [R-FL-24], Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL], Rep. Biggert, Judy [R-IL-13], Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [R-NJ-11], Rep. Murphy, Tim [R-PA-18], Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7], Rep. Lucas, Ken [D-KY-4], Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17], Rep. Taylor, Gene [D-MS-4], Rep. Hobson, David L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12], Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-5], Rep. Dunn, Jennifer [R-WA-8], Rep. Rogers, Mike J. [R-MI-8], Rep. Brown-Waite, Ginny [R-FL-5], Rep. Hayes, Robin [R-NC-8], Rep. Leach, James A. [R-IA-2], Rep. Otter, C. L. (Butch) [R-ID-1], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. LaTourette, Steven C. [R-OH-14], Rep. Fletcher, Ernie [R-KY-6], Rep. Weldon, Dave [R-FL-15], Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12], Rep. Hayworth, J. D. [R-AZ-5], Rep. Crane, Philip M. [R-IL-8], Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH], Rep. Sullivan, John [R-OK-1], Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3], Rep. Cannon, Chris [R-UT-3], Rep. Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [R-FL-22], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25], Rep. Lewis, Ron [R-KY-2], Rep. Northup, Anne M. [R-KY-3], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Hulshof, Kenny C. [R-MO-9]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

7 April 2025

Healthcare

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Summary

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003 - Makes changes to the health care liability system, including compensation for injured patients and other issues arising out of health care law suits. Requires a suit to be brought within three years of the date of injury or one year after the claimant discovers or should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs first. Specifies exceptions when a suit may be brought later than three years after the date of injury. Sets forth requirements and permissible recovery amounts for compensating patient injury, including: (1) the full amount of economic loss without limitation; (2) noneconomic damages as specified; and (3) a fair share rule. Requires the court to supervise payment-of-damage arrangements, limiting contingency fees. Permits the introduction of evidence of collateral source benefits, except that this section shall not apply to provisions of the Social Security Act pertaining to State plans for medical assistance and Medicare as secondary payer. Limits the availability of punitive damages, requiring clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent to injure or a deliberate failure to avoid substantially certain, unnecessary injury. Prohibits their award for products that comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, except if the manufacturer or distributor of a particular medical product or the supplier of a component or raw material of such a product causes harm by failing to comply with a specific requirement of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Authorizes periodic payment of future damages to claimants. Excludes suits for vaccine-related death or injury from the requirements of this Act if otherwise covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Preempts State law unless such law imposes greater protections for health care providers and organizations from liability, loss, or damages. Expresses the sense of Congress that a health insurer should be liable for damages for harm caused when it makes a decision as to what care is medically necessary and appropriate.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 5 February 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 5 February 2003

    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

  3. 5 February 2003

    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

  4. 5 February 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 14 February 2003

    Referred

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

    Source: Committee

  6. 4 March 2003

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  7. 4 March 2003

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  8. 4 March 2003

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

    Source: Committee

  9. 4 March 2003

    Committee

    Committee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  10. 5 March 2003

    Vote

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.

    Source: Committee

  11. 5 March 2003

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  12. 6 March 2003

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  13. 6 March 2003

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  14. 11 March 2003

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 20.

    Source: Calendars

  15. 11 March 2003

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-32, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  16. 11 March 2003

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-32, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  17. 12 March 2003

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 139 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides for 80 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Measure will be considered read. The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 108-34) shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides that H.Res. 126 is laid on...

    Source: Floor

  18. 13 March 2003

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate.

    Source: IntroReferral

  19. 13 March 2003

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  20. 13 March 2003

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 196, 1 Present (Roll No. 64). (text: CR H1832-1834)

    Source: Floor

  21. 13 March 2003

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 234 (Roll no. 63).

    Source: Floor

  22. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

    Source: Floor

  23. 13 March 2003

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 196, 1 Present (Roll No. 64).(text: CR H1832-1834)

    Source: Floor

  24. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    Mr. Conyers moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary and Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H1866-1871; text: CR H1866-1869)

    Source: Floor

  25. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    Source: Floor

  26. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Provides for 80 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. Measure will be considered read. The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committees on the Judiciary and on Energy and Commerce now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report (H. Rept. 108-34) shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides that H.Res. 126 is laid on...

    Source: Floor

  27. 13 March 2003

    Reported

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 139. (consideration: CR H1817-1871, H1879-1880; text of measure as reported in House: CR H1829-1832)

    Source: Floor

  28. 13 March 2003

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 139 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  29. 20 March 2003

    Calendars

    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

  30. 21 March 2003

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 49.

    Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

12 official files

Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 21 March 2003

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 21 March 2003

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Passed House without amendment

    summary · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 11 March 2003

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 11 March 2003

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  • Reported to House amended, Part II

    summary · EN · 11 March 2003

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  • Reported to House amended, Part I

    summary · EN · 11 March 2003

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 February 2003

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 February 2003

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 5 February 2003

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 131 sponsors and actors.

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Sources

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