House Committees Consider Medical Liability, Health Policy Bills
On February 15, 2011, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved a number of health policy bills, including H.R. 358 (relating to coverage of abortion services under the ACA); H.R. 528, the Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2011 (requiring the HHS Secretary to study the epidemiology and impact of neglected parasitic infectious disease associated with poverty); and H.R. 570 (to amend the Dental Emergency Responder Act to enhance the roles of dentists and allied dental personnel in the nation's disaster response framework). In addition, on February 16, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011. The legislation would set conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims, including limits on noneconomic and punitive damages.
