Bill > SB2086

This bill aims to enhance patient protections and healthcare provider accountability by establishing a more robust reporting system for complaints and claims, extending legal timelines for medical malpractice cases, and adjusting damage caps. Specifically, it mandates that healthcare professionals and courts must report any legal or administrative complaints, claims, or actions for damages filed against a healthcare professional to their respective licensing boards within thirty days of receipt, with specific reporting requirements to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for physicians, osteopathic physicians, and podiatrists. Additionally, self-insured healthcare providers and their liability insurers must report medical tort claims to the Insurance Commissioner, who will then share relevant information with the appropriate professional boards or the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The bill also extends the timeframe for bringing a medical tort action (a lawsuit for medical malpractice), introduces new conditions that can pause this timeframe (tolling), and increases the maximum amount of damages that can be awarded for pain and suffering in medical tort cases to $500,000, with exceptions for gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2086&year=2026