II 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 22, 2012 
Received; read the first time 
MARCH 26, 2012 
Read the second time and placed on the calendar 
MARCH 27, 2012 
Ordered returned to the House 
AN ACT 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Access to 
Healthcare Act’’. 
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TITLE I—HEALTH ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Help Efficient, Acces-
sible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 
2012’’. 
SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
It is the purpose of this title to implement reasonable, 
comprehensive, and effective health care liability reforms 
designed to— 
(1) improve the availability of health care serv-
ices in cases in which health care liability actions 
have been shown to be a factor in the decreased 
availability of services; 
(2) reduce the incidence of ‘‘defensive medi-
cine’’ and lower the cost of health care liability in-
surance, all of which contribute to the escalation of 
health care costs; 
(3) ensure that persons with meritorious health 
care injury claims receive fair and adequate com-
pensation, including reasonable noneconomic dam-
ages; 
(4) improve the fairness and cost-effectiveness 
of our current health care liability system to resolve 
disputes over, and provide compensation for, health 
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care liability by reducing uncertainty in the amount 
of compensation provided to injured individuals; and 
(5) provide an increased sharing of information 
in the health care system which will reduce unin-
tended injury and improve patient care. 
SEC. 103. ENCOURAGING SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF CLAIMS. 
The time for the commencement of a health care law-
suit shall be 3 years after the date of manifestation of 
injury or 1 year after the claimant discovers, or through 
the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the 
injury, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the time 
for commencement of a health care lawsuit exceed 3 years 
after the date of manifestation of injury unless tolled for 
any of the following— 
(1) upon proof of fraud; 
(2) intentional concealment; or 
(3) the presence of a foreign body, which has no 
therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the 
person of the injured person. 
Actions by a minor shall be commenced within 3 years 
from the date of the alleged manifestation of injury except 
that actions by a minor under the full age of 6 years shall 
be commenced within 3 years of manifestation of injury 
or prior to the minor’s 8th birthday, whichever provides 
a longer period. Such time limitation shall be tolled for 
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minors for any period during which a parent or guardian 
and a health care provider or health care organization 
have committed fraud or collusion in the failure to bring 
an action on behalf of the injured minor. 
SEC. 104. COMPENSATING PATIENT INJURY. 
(a) UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF DAMAGES FOR ACTUAL 
ECONOMIC LOSSES IN HEALTH CARE LAWSUITS.—In any 
health care lawsuit, nothing in this title shall limit a claim-
ant’s recovery of the full amount of the available economic 
damages, notwithstanding the limitation in subsection (b). 
(b) ADDITIONAL NONECONOMIC DAMAGES.—In any 
health care lawsuit, the amount of noneconomic damages, 
if available, may be as much as $250,000, regardless of 
the number of parties against whom the action is brought 
or the number of separate claims or actions brought with 
respect to the same injury. 
(c) NO DISCOUNT OF AWARD FOR NONECONOMIC 
DAMAGES.—For purposes of applying the limitation in 
subsection (b), future noneconomic damages shall not be 
discounted to present value. The jury shall not be in-
formed about the maximum award for noneconomic dam-
ages. An award for noneconomic damages in excess of 
$250,000 shall be reduced either before the entry of judg-
ment, or by amendment of the judgment after entry of 
judgment, and such reduction shall be made before ac-
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counting for any other reduction in damages required by 
law. If separate awards are rendered for past and future 
noneconomic damages and the combined awards exceed 
$250,000, the future noneconomic damages shall be re-
duced first. 
(d) FAIR SHARE RULE.—In any health care lawsuit, 
each party shall be liable for that party’s several share 
of any damages only and not for the share of any other 
person. Each party shall be liable only for the amount of 
damages allocated to such party in direct proportion to 
such party’s percentage of responsibility. Whenever a 
judgment of liability is rendered as to any party, a sepa-
rate judgment shall be rendered against each such party 
for the amount allocated to such party. For purposes of 
this section, the trier of fact shall determine the propor-
tion of responsibility of each party for the claimant’s 
harm. 
SEC. 105. MAXIMIZING PATIENT RECOVERY. 
(a) COURT SUPERVISION OF SHARE OF DAMAGES 
ACTUALLY PAID TO CLAIMANTS.—In any health care law-
suit, the court shall supervise the arrangements for pay-
ment of damages to protect against conflicts of interest 
that may have the effect of reducing the amount of dam-
ages awarded that are actually paid to claimants. In par-
ticular, in any health care lawsuit in which the attorney 
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for a party claims a financial stake in the outcome by vir-
tue of a contingent fee, the court shall have the power 
to restrict the payment of a claimant’s damage recovery 
to such attorney, and to redirect such damages to the 
claimant based upon the interests of justice and principles 
of equity. In no event shall the total of all contingent fees 
for representing all claimants in a health care lawsuit ex-
ceed the following limits: 
(1) Forty percent of the first $50,000 recovered 
by the claimant(s). 
(2) Thirty-three and one-third percent of the 
next $50,000 recovered by the claimant(s). 
(3) Twenty-five percent of the next $500,000 
recovered by the claimant(s). 
(4) Fifteen percent of any amount by which the 
recovery by the claimant(s) is in excess of $600,000. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The limitations in this section 
shall apply whether the recovery is by judgment, settle-
ment, mediation, arbitration, or any other form of alter-
native dispute resolution. In a health care lawsuit involv-
ing a minor or incompetent person, a court retains the 
authority to authorize or approve a fee that is less than 
the maximum permitted under this section. The require-
ment for court supervision in the first two sentences of 
subsection (a) applies only in civil actions. 
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SEC. 106. PUNITIVE DAMAGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Punitive damages may, if other-
wise permitted by applicable State or Federal law, be 
awarded against any person in a health care lawsuit only 
if it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that such 
person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant, 
or that such person deliberately failed to avoid unneces-
sary injury that such person knew the claimant was sub-
stantially certain to suffer. In any health care lawsuit 
where no judgment for compensatory damages is rendered 
against such person, no punitive damages may be awarded 
with respect to the claim in such lawsuit. No demand for 
punitive damages shall be included in a health care lawsuit 
as initially filed. A court may allow a claimant to file an 
amended pleading for punitive damages only upon a mo-
tion by the claimant and after a finding by the court, upon 
review of supporting and opposing affidavits or after a 
hearing, after weighing the evidence, that the claimant has 
established by a substantial probability that the claimant 
will prevail on the claim for punitive damages. At the re-
quest of any party in a health care lawsuit, the trier of 
fact shall consider in a separate proceeding— 
(1) whether punitive damages are to be award-
ed and the amount of such award; and 
(2) the amount of punitive damages following a 
determination of punitive liability. 
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(F) the amount of any civil fines assessed 
against such party as a result of the conduct 
complained of by the claimant. 
(2) MAXIMUM AWARD.—The amount of punitive 
damages, if awarded, in a health care lawsuit may 
be as much as $250,000 or as much as two times 
the amount of economic damages awarded, which-
ever is greater. The jury shall not be informed of 
this limitation. 
(c) NO PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR PRODUCTS THAT 
COMPLY WITH FDA STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) No punitive damages may be awarded 
against the manufacturer or distributor of a 
medical product, or a supplier of any compo-
nent or raw material of such medical product, 
based on a claim that such product caused the 
claimant’s harm where— 
(i)(I) such medical product was sub-
ject to premarket approval, clearance, or li-
censure by the Food and Drug Administra-
tion with respect to the safety of the for-
mulation or performance of the aspect of 
such medical product which caused the 
claimant’s harm or the adequacy of the 
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packaging or labeling of such medical 
product; and 
(II) such medical product was so ap-
proved, cleared, or licensed; or 
(ii) such medical product is generally 
recognized among qualified experts as safe 
and effective pursuant to conditions estab-
lished by the Food and Drug Administra-
tion and applicable Food and Drug Admin-
istration regulations, including without 
limitation those related to packaging and 
labeling, unless the Food and Drug Admin-
istration has determined that such medical 
product was not manufactured or distrib-
uted in substantial compliance with appli-
cable Food and Drug Administration stat-
utes and regulations. 
(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Subpara-
graph (A) may not be construed as establishing 
the obligation of the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration to demonstrate affirmatively that a 
manufacturer, distributor, or supplier referred 
to in such subparagraph meets any of the con-
ditions described in such subparagraph. 
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(2) LIABILITY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.— 
A health care provider who prescribes, or who dis-
penses pursuant to a prescription, a medical product 
approved, licensed, or cleared by the Food and Drug 
Administration shall not be named as a party to a 
product liability lawsuit involving such product and 
shall not be liable to a claimant in a class action 
lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or 
seller of such product. Nothing in this paragraph 
prevents a court from consolidating cases involving 
health care providers and cases involving products li-
ability claims against the manufacturer, distributor, 
or product seller of such medical product. 
(3) PACKAGING.—In a health care lawsuit for 
harm which is alleged to relate to the adequacy of 
the packaging or labeling of a drug which is required 
to have tamper-resistant packaging under regula-
tions of the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (including labeling regulations related to such 
packaging), the manufacturer or product seller of 
the drug shall not be held liable for punitive dam-
ages unless such packaging or labeling is found by 
the trier of fact by clear and convincing evidence to 
be substantially out of compliance with such regula-
tions. 
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(4) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply in any health care lawsuit in which— 
(A) a person, before or after premarket ap-
proval, clearance, or licensure of such medical 
product, knowingly misrepresented to or with-
held from the Food and Drug Administration 
information that is required to be submitted 
under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or section 351 of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) 
that is material and is causally related to the 
harm which the claimant allegedly suffered; 
(B) a person made an illegal payment to 
an official of the Food and Drug Administra-
tion for the purpose of either securing or main-
taining approval, clearance, or licensure of such 
medical product; or 
(C) the defendant caused the medical prod-
uct which caused the claimant’s harm to be 
misbranded or adulterated (as such terms are 
used in chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq.)). 
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SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF PAYMENT OF FUTURE DAM-
AGES TO CLAIMANTS IN HEALTH CARE LAW-
SUITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In any health care lawsuit, if an 
award of future damages, without reduction to present 
value, equaling or exceeding $50,000 is made against a 
party with sufficient insurance or other assets to fund a 
periodic payment of such a judgment, the court shall, at 
the request of any party, enter a judgment ordering that 
the future damages be paid by periodic payments, in ac-
cordance with the Uniform Periodic Payment of Judg-
ments Act promulgated by the National Conference of 
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to all ac-
tions which have not been first set for trial or retrial be-
fore the effective date of this title. 
SEC. 108. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYS-
TEM; ADR.—The term ‘‘alternative dispute resolution 
system’’ or ‘‘ADR’’ means a system that provides 
for the resolution of health care lawsuits in a man-
ner other than through a civil action brought in a 
State or Federal court. 
(2) CLAIMANT.—The term ‘‘claimant’’ means 
any person who brings a health care lawsuit, includ-
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ing a person who asserts or claims a right to legal 
or equitable contribution, indemnity, or subrogation, 
arising out of a health care liability claim or action, 
and any person on whose behalf such a claim is as-
serted or such an action is brought, whether de-
ceased, incompetent, or a minor. 
(3) 
COMPENSATORY
DAMAGES.—The 
term 
‘‘compensatory 
damages’’ 
means 
objectively 
verifiable monetary losses incurred as a result of the 
provision of, use of, or payment for (or failure to 
provide, use, or pay for) health care services or med-
ical products, such as past and future medical ex-
penses, loss of past and future earnings, cost of ob-
taining domestic services, loss of employment, and 
loss of business or employment opportunities, dam-
ages for physical and emotional pain, suffering, in-
convenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, 
disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of soci-
ety and companionship, loss of consortium (other 
than loss of domestic service), hedonic damages, in-
jury to reputation, and all other nonpecuniary losses 
of any kind or nature. The term ‘‘compensatory 
damages’’ includes economic damages and non-
economic damages, as such terms are defined in this 
section. 
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(4) CONTINGENT FEE.—The term ‘‘contingent 
fee’’ includes all compensation to any person or per-
sons which is payable only if a recovery is effected 
on behalf of one or more claimants. 
(5) ECONOMIC DAMAGES.—The term ‘‘economic 
damages’’ means objectively verifiable monetary 
losses incurred as a result of the provision of, use 
of, or payment for (or failure to provide, use, or pay 
for) health care services or medical products, such as 
past and future medical expenses, loss of past and 
future earnings, cost of obtaining domestic services, 
loss of employment, and loss of business or employ-
ment opportunities. 
(6) 
HEALTH
CARE
LAWSUIT.—The 
term 
‘‘health care lawsuit’’ means any health care liability 
claim concerning the provision of health care goods 
or services or any medical product affecting inter-
state commerce, or any health care liability action 
concerning the provision of health care goods or 
services or any medical product affecting interstate 
commerce, brought in a State or Federal court or 
pursuant to an alternative dispute resolution system, 
against a health care provider, a health care organi-
zation, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, 
marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, 
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regardless of the theory of liability on which the 
claim is based, or the number of claimants, plain-
tiffs, defendants, or other parties, or the number of 
claims or causes of action, in which the claimant al-
leges a health care liability claim. Such term does 
not include a claim or action which is based on 
criminal liability; which seeks civil fines or penalties 
paid to Federal, State, or local government; or which 
is grounded in antitrust. 
(7) HEALTH
CARE
LIABILITY
ACTION.—The 
term ‘‘health care liability action’’ means a civil ac-
tion brought in a State or Federal court or pursuant 
to an alternative dispute resolution system, against 
a health care provider, a health care organization, or 
the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, 
promoter, or seller of a medical product, regardless 
of the theory of liability on which the claim is based, 
or the number of plaintiffs, defendants, or other par-
ties, or the number of causes of action, in which the 
claimant alleges a health care liability claim. 
(8) HEALTH
CARE
LIABILITY
CLAIM.—The 
term ‘‘health care liability claim’’ means a demand 
by any person, whether or not pursuant to ADR, 
against a health care provider, health care organiza-
tion, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, mar-
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keter, promoter, or seller of a medical product, in-
cluding, but not limited to, third-party claims, cross- 
claims, counter-claims, or contribution claims, which 
are based upon the provision of, use of, or payment 
for (or the failure to provide, use, or pay for) health 
care services or medical products, regardless of the 
theory of liability on which the claim is based, or the 
number of plaintiffs, defendants, or other parties, or 
the number of causes of action. 
(9) HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘health care organization’’ means any person or en-
tity which is obligated to provide or pay for health 
benefits under any health plan, including any person 
or entity acting under a contract or arrangement 
with a health care organization to provide or admin-
ister any health benefit. 
(10) HEALTH
CARE
PROVIDER.—The term 
‘‘health care provider’’ means any person or entity 
required by State or Federal laws or regulations to 
be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health 
care services, and being either so licensed, reg-
istered, or certified, or exempted from such require-
ment by other statute or regulation. 
(11) HEALTH CARE GOODS OR SERVICES.—The 
term ‘‘health care goods or services’’ means any 
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goods or services provided by a health care organiza-
tion, provider, or by any individual working under 
the supervision of a health care provider, that relates 
to the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any 
human disease or impairment, or the assessment or 
care of the health of human beings. 
(12) MALICIOUS
INTENT
TO
INJURE.—The 
term ‘‘malicious intent to injure’’ means inten-
tionally causing or attempting to cause physical in-
jury other than providing health care goods or serv-
ices. 
(13) MEDICAL PRODUCT.—The term ‘‘medical 
product’’ means a drug, device, or biological product 
intended for humans, and the terms ‘‘drug’’, ‘‘de-
vice’’, and ‘‘biological product’’ have the meanings 
given such terms in sections 201(g)(1) and 201(h) 
of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 
U.S.C. 321(g)(1) and (h)) and section 351(a) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)), re-
spectively, including any component or raw material 
used therein, but excluding health care services. 
(14) 
NONECONOMIC
DAMAGES.—The 
term 
‘‘noneconomic damages’’ means damages for phys-
ical and emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, 
physical impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, 
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loss of enjoyment of life, loss of society and compan-
ionship, loss of consortium (other than loss of do-
mestic service), hedonic damages, injury to reputa-
tion, and all other nonpecuniary losses of any kind 
or nature. 
(15) PUNITIVE DAMAGES.—The term ‘‘punitive 
damages’’ means damages awarded, for the purpose 
of punishment or deterrence, and not solely for com-
pensatory purposes, against a health care provider, 
health care organization, or a manufacturer, dis-
tributor, or supplier of a medical product. Punitive 
damages are neither economic nor noneconomic 
damages. 
(16) RECOVERY.—The term ‘‘recovery’’ means 
the net sum recovered after deducting any disburse-
ments or costs incurred in connection with prosecu-
tion or settlement of the claim, including all costs 
paid or advanced by any person. Costs of health care 
incurred by the plaintiff and the attorneys’ office 
overhead costs or charges for legal services are not 
deductible disbursements or costs for such purpose. 
(17) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Is-
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lands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and 
any other territory or possession of the United 
States, or any political subdivision thereof. 
SEC. 109. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. 
(a) VACCINE INJURY.— 
(1) To the extent that title XXI of the Public 
Health Service Act establishes a Federal rule of law 
applicable to a civil action brought for a vaccine-re-
lated injury or death— 
(A) this title does not affect the application 
of the rule of law to such an action; and 
(B) any rule of law prescribed by this title 
in conflict with a rule of law of such title XXI 
shall not apply to such action. 
(2) If there is an aspect of a civil action 
brought for a vaccine-related injury or death to 
which a Federal rule of law under title XXI of the 
Public Health Service Act does not apply, then this 
title or otherwise applicable law (as determined 
under this title) will apply to such aspect of such ac-
tion. 
(b) OTHER FEDERAL LAW.—Except as provided in 
this section, nothing in this title shall be deemed to affect 
any defense available to a defendant in a health care law-
suit or action under any other provision of Federal law. 
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SEC. 
110. 
STATE 
FLEXIBILITY 
AND 
PROTECTION 
OF 
STATES’ RIGHTS. 
(a) HEALTH CARE LAWSUITS.—The provisions gov-
erning health care lawsuits set forth in this title preempt, 
subject to subsections (b) and (c), State law to the extent 
that State law prevents the application of any provisions 
of law established by or under this title. The provisions 
governing health care lawsuits set forth in this title super-
sede chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to the 
extent that such chapter— 
(1) provides for a greater amount of damages 
or contingent fees, a longer period in which a health 
care lawsuit may be commenced, or a reduced appli-
cability or scope of periodic payment of future dam-
ages, than provided in this title; or 
(2) prohibits the introduction of evidence re-
garding collateral source benefits, or mandates or 
permits subrogation or a lien on collateral source 
benefits. 
(b) PROTECTION OF STATES’ RIGHTS AND OTHER 
LAWS.—(1) Any issue that is not governed by any provi-
sion of law established by or under this title (including 
State standards of negligence) shall be governed by other-
wise applicable State or Federal law. 
(2) This title shall not preempt or supersede any 
State or Federal law that imposes greater procedural or 
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governed by the applicable statute of limitations provisions 
in effect at the time the injury occurred. 
TITLE 
II—REPEAL 
OF 
INDE-
PENDENT 
PAYMENT 
ADVI-
SORY BOARD 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Decisions 
Accountability Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 202. REPEAL OF THE INDEPENDENT PAYMENT ADVI-
SORY BOARD. 
Effective as of the enactment of the Patient Protec-
tion and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148), sec-
tions 3403 and 10320 of such Act (including the amend-
ments made by such sections, but excluding subsection (d) 
of section 1899A of the Social Security Act, as added and 
amended by such sections) are repealed, and any provision 
of law amended by such sections is hereby restored as if 
such sections had not been enacted into law. 
TITLE III—HEALTH CARE 
SAFETY NET ENHANCEMENT 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Health Care Safety 
Net Enhancement Act of 2012’’. 
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SEC. 302. PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY AND RELATED 
SERVICES 
FURNISHED 
PURSUANT 
TO 
EMTALA. 
Section 224(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 233(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘An entity’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph (6), an entity’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6)(A) For purposes of this section— 
‘‘(i) an entity described in subparagraph 
(B) shall be considered to be an entity de-
scribed in paragraph (4); and 
‘‘(ii) the provisions of this section shall 
apply to an entity described in subparagraph 
(B) in the same manner as such provisions 
apply to an entity described in paragraph (4), 
except that— 
‘‘(I) 
notwithstanding 
paragraph 
(1)(B), the deeming of any entity described 
in subparagraph (B), or of an officer, gov-
erning board member, employee, con-
tractor, or on-call provider of such an enti-
ty, to be an employee of the Public Health 
Service for purposes of this section shall 
apply only with respect to items and serv-
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ices that are furnished to an individual 
pursuant to section 1867 of the Social Se-
curity Act and to post stabilization services 
(as defined in subparagraph (D)) furnished 
to such an individual; 
‘‘(II) nothing in paragraph (1)(D) 
shall be construed as preventing a physi-
cian or physician group described in sub-
paragraph (B)(ii) from making the appli-
cation referred to in such paragraph or as 
conditioning the deeming of a physician or 
physician group that makes such an appli-
cation upon receipt by the Secretary of an 
application from the hospital or emergency 
department that employs or contracts with 
the physician or group, or enlists the phy-
sician or physician group as an on-call pro-
vider; 
‘‘(III) notwithstanding paragraph (3), 
this paragraph shall apply only with re-
spect to causes of action arising from acts 
or omissions that occur on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2012; 
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‘‘(IV) paragraph (5) shall not apply to 
a physician or physician group described in 
subparagraph (B)(ii); 
‘‘(V) the Attorney General, in con-
sultation with the Secretary, shall make 
separate estimates under subsection (k)(1) 
with respect to entities described in sub-
paragraph (B) and entities described in 
paragraph (4) (other than those described 
in subparagraph (B)), and the Secretary 
shall establish separate funds under sub-
section (k)(2) with respect to such groups 
of entities, and any appropriations under 
this subsection for entities described in 
subparagraph (B) shall be separate from 
the amounts authorized by subsection 
(k)(2); 
‘‘(VI) 
notwithstanding 
subsection 
(k)(2), the amount of the fund established 
by the Secretary under such subsection 
with respect to entities described in sub-
paragraph (B) may exceed a total of 
$10,000,000 for a fiscal year; and 
‘‘(VII) subsection (m) shall not apply 
to entities described in subparagraph (B). 
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‘‘(B) An entity described in this subparagraph 
is— 
‘‘(i) a hospital or an emergency depart-
ment to which section 1867 of the Social Secu-
rity Act applies; and 
‘‘(ii) a physician or physician group that is 
employed by, is under contract with, or is an 
on-call provider of such hospital or emergency 
department, to furnish items and services to in-
dividuals under such section. 
‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
‘on-call provider’ means a physician or physician 
group that— 
‘‘(i) has full, temporary, or locum tenens 
staff privileges at a hospital or emergency de-
partment to which section 1867 of the Social 
Security Act applies; and 
‘‘(ii) is not employed by or under contract 
with such hospital or emergency department, 
but agrees to be ready and available to provide 
services pursuant to section 1867 of the Social 
Security Act or post-stabilization services to in-
dividuals being treated in the hospital or emer-
gency department with or without compensation 
from the hospital or emergency department. 
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‘‘(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
‘post stabilization services’ means, with respect to an 
individual who has been treated by an entity de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) for purposes of com-
plying with section 1867 of the Social Security Act, 
services that are— 
‘‘(i) related to the condition that was so 
treated; and 
‘‘(ii) provided after the individual is sta-
bilized in order to maintain the stabilized condi-
tion or to improve or resolve the condition of 
the individual. 
‘‘(E)(i) Nothing in this paragraph (or in any 
other provision of this section as such provision ap-
plies to entities described in subparagraph (B) by 
operation of subparagraph (A)) shall be construed as 
authorizing or requiring the Secretary to make pay-
ments to such entities, the budget authority for 
which is not provided in advance by appropriation 
Acts. 
‘‘(ii) The Secretary shall limit the total amount 
of payments under this paragraph for a fiscal year 
to the total amount appropriated in advance by ap-
propriation Acts for such purpose for such fiscal 
year. If the total amount of payments that would 
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otherwise be made under this paragraph for a fiscal 
year exceeds such total amount appropriated, the 
Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary 
to ensure that the total amount of payments under 
this paragraph for such fiscal year does not exceed 
such total amount appropriated.’’. 
SEC. 303. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. 
The constitutional authority upon which this title 
rests is the power of the Congress to provide for the gen-
eral welfare, to regulate commerce, and to make all laws 
which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into exe-
cution Federal powers, as enumerated in section 8 of arti-
cle I of the Constitution of the United States. 
TITLE IV—RESTORING THE AP-
PLICATION 
OF 
ANTITRUST 
LAWS TO HEALTH SECTOR IN-
SURERS 
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Health Insurance In-
dustry Fair Competition Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 402. APPLICATION OF THE ANTITRUST LAWS TO THE 
BUSINESS OF HEALTH INSURANCE. 
(a) AMENDMENT TO MCCARRAN-FERGUSON ACT.— 
Section 3 of the Act of March 9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1013), 
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commonly known as the McCarran-Ferguson Act, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) Nothing contained in this Act shall modify, im-
pair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust 
laws with respect to the business of health insurance. For 
purposes of the preceding sentence, the term ‘antitrust 
laws’ has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of the 
first section of the Clayton Act, except that such term in-
cludes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to 
the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods 
of competition. For the purposes of this subsection, the 
term ‘business of health insurance’ shall— 
‘‘(1) mean ‘health insurance coverage’ offered 
by a ‘health insurance issuer’ as those terms are de-
fined in section 9001 of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act, which incorporates by reference 
and utilizes the definitions included in section 9832 
of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 9832); and 
‘‘(2) not include— 
‘‘(A) life insurance and annuities; 
‘‘(B) property or casualty insurance, in-
cluding but not limited to, automobile, medical 
malpractice or workers’ compensation insur-
ance; or 
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‘‘(C) any insurance or benefits defined as 
‘excepted benefits’ under section 9832(c) of the 
Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 9832(c)), 
whether offered separately or in combination 
with products described in subparagraph (A).’’. 
(b) RELATED PROVISION.—For purposes of section 
5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) 
to the extent such section applies to unfair methods of 
competition, section 3(c) of the McCarran-Ferguson Act 
shall apply with respect to the business of health insurance 
without regard to whether such business is carried on for 
profit, notwithstanding the definition of ‘‘Corporation’’ 
contained in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission 
Act. 
(c) LIMITATION ON CLASS ACTIONS.— 
(1) LIMITATION.—No class action may be 
heard in a Federal or State court on a claim against 
a person engaged in the business of health insurance 
for a violation of any of the antitrust laws (as de-
fined in section 3(c) of the Act of March 9, 1945 
(15 U.S.C. 1013), commonly known as the 
McCarran-Ferguson Act). 
(2) EXEMPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply with respect to any action commenced— 
(A) by the United States or any State; or 
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(B) by a named claimant for an injury 
only to itself. 
TITLE 
V—PROTECTIONS 
FOR 
GOOD 
SAMARITAN 
HEALTH 
PROFESSIONALS 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Good Samaritan 
Health Professionals Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 502. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER 
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 202 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 224 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 224A. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER 
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
‘‘(a) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—Except as provided 
in subsection (b), a health care professional shall not be 
liable under Federal or State law for any harm caused 
by an act or omission of the professional if— 
‘‘(1) the professional is serving as a volunteer 
for purposes of responding to a disaster; and 
‘‘(2) the act or omission occurs— 
‘‘(A) during the period of the disaster, as 
determined under the laws listed in subsection 
(e)(1); 
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‘‘(B) in the health care professional’s ca-
pacity as such a volunteer; and 
‘‘(C) in a good faith belief that the indi-
vidual being treated is in need of health care 
services. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) does not apply 
if— 
‘‘(1) the harm was caused by an act or omission 
constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross 
negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious fla-
grant indifference to the rights or safety of the indi-
vidual harmed by the health care professional; or 
‘‘(2) the health care professional rendered the 
health care services under the influence (as deter-
mined pursuant to applicable State law) of intoxi-
cating alcohol or an intoxicating drug. 
‘‘(c) STANDARD OF PROOF.—In any civil action or 
proceeding against a health care professional claiming that 
the limitation in subsection (a) applies, the plaintiff shall 
have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evi-
dence the extent to which limitation does not apply. 
‘‘(d) PREEMPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—This section preempts the 
laws of a State or any political subdivision of a State 
to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with 
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this section, unless such laws provide greater protec-
tion from liability. 
‘‘(2) VOLUNTEER
PROTECTION
ACT.—Protec-
tions afforded by this section are in addition to those 
provided by the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘disaster’ means— 
‘‘(A) a national emergency declared by the 
President under the National Emergencies Act; 
‘‘(B) an emergency or major disaster de-
clared by the President under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act; or 
‘‘(C) a public health emergency determined 
by the Secretary under section 319 of this Act. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘harm’ includes physical, non-
physical, economic, and noneconomic losses. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘health care professional’ means 
an individual who is licensed, certified, or authorized 
in one or more States to practice a health care pro-
fession. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘State’ includes each of the sev-
eral States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
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and any other territory or possession of the United 
States. 
‘‘(5)(A) The term ‘volunteer’ means a health 
care professional who, with respect to the health 
care services rendered, does not receive— 
‘‘(i) compensation; or 
‘‘(ii) any other thing of value in lieu of 
compensation, in excess of $500 per year. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the 
term ‘compensation’— 
‘‘(i) includes payment under any insurance 
policy or health plan, or under any Federal or 
State health benefits program; and 
‘‘(ii) excludes— 
‘‘(I) reasonable reimbursement or al-
lowance for expenses actually incurred; 
‘‘(II) receipt of paid leave; and 
‘‘(III) receipt of items to be used ex-
clusively for rendering the health services 
in the health care professional’s capacity 
as a volunteer described in subsection 
(a)(1).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—This title and the amend-
ment made by subsection (a) shall take effect 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this title. 
(2) APPLICATION.—This title applies to any 
claim for harm caused by an act or omission of a 
health care professional where the claim is filed on 
or after the effective date of this title, but only if the 
harm that is the subject of the claim or the conduct 
that caused such harm occurred on or after such ef-
fective date. 
Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 
2012. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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