PRINTER'S NO. 1789
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1286
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MENTZER, ZIMMERMAN, HICKERNELL, GREINER AND
B. MILLER, MAY 22, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, MAY 22, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), entitled
"An act reforming the law on medical professional liability;
providing for patient safety and reporting; establishing the
Patient Safety Authority and the Patient Safety Trust Fund;
abrogating regulations; providing for medical professional
liability informed consent, damages, expert qualifications,
limitations of actions and medical records; establishing the
Interbranch Commission on Venue; providing for medical
professional liability insurance; establishing the Medical
Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund; providing for
medical professional liability claims; establishing the Joint
Underwriting Association; regulating medical professional
liability insurance; providing for medical licensure
regulation; providing for administration; imposing penalties;
and making repeals," in medical professional liability,
providing for punitive damages study.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known
as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare)
Act, is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 505.1. Punitive damages study.
(a) Duty of commissioner.--The commissioner shall complete a
study of the amount of punitive damages paid since April 1,
2007, to the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error
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Fund under section 505(e).
(b) Timing.--The study shall be completed no later than one
year after the effective date of this section.
(c) Submission.--The study shall be submitted to the
following:
(1) The chair and minority chair of the Banking and
Insurance Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chair and minority chair of the Insurance
Committee of the House of Representatives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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