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Improving Healthcare Access and Reducing Medical Lawsuits

This Act aims to enhance healthcare access and lower costs by reducing the number and expense of lawsuits against medical providers. It introduces changes to lawsuit filing rules, damage caps, and expert witness qualifications, potentially impacting case resolution speed and the financial stability of the healthcare system.
Key points
Limits the time to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to 3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery, with some exceptions.
Caps non-economic damages (e.g., pain, suffering) at $250,000, while allowing full recovery for economic damages (e.g., medical bills, lost wages).
Requires an affidavit of merit from a health professional to be filed with the lawsuit, certifying the claim's validity.
Establishes stricter qualifications for expert witnesses in medical lawsuits to ensure their relevant expertise.
Prevents apologies or expressions of sympathy from healthcare providers from being used as evidence of liability in court.
Limits attorney contingent fees in medical lawsuits to ensure more compensation goes to injured patients.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_9584
Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8]
Process start date: 2022-12-15
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

ACCESS Act of 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_9584.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-12-15.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Limits the time to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to 3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery, with some exceptions.
  • Caps non-economic damages (e.g., pain, suffering) at $250,000, while allowing full recovery for economic damages (e.g., medical bills, lost wages).
  • Requires an affidavit of merit from a health professional to be filed with the lawsuit, certifying the claim's validity.
  • Establishes stricter qualifications for expert witnesses in medical lawsuits to ensure their relevant expertise.
  • Prevents apologies or expressions of sympathy from healthcare providers from being used as evidence of liability in court.
  • Limits attorney contingent fees in medical lawsuits to ensure more compensation goes to injured patients.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in House

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

CATEGORIES

Health Courts and Law