Bill > S1860

This bill, the STAR Act of 2013, aims to reform the medical liability system, improve access to healthcare for rural and low-income patients, and make prescription drugs more affordable. Key provisions include establishing stricter time limits for filing medical malpractice lawsuits, capping non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) at $250,000 while allowing unlimited recovery for actual economic losses, and implementing a "fair share" rule where each party is only liable for their proportional responsibility in a lawsuit. It also limits attorney contingency fees in medical liability cases and allows for the introduction of evidence regarding collateral source benefits (like insurance payments) in such lawsuits, while restricting punitive damages to cases proven by clear and convincing evidence of malicious intent or deliberate disregard for harm, with a cap of $250,000 or twice the economic damages. The bill also introduces a program for loan forgiveness for primary care providers serving in underserved areas, allows states to designate critical access hospitals, and provides tax benefits for healthcare providers offering care to low-income individuals. Furthermore, it permits individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada if they comply with federal standards and allows individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines, with the laws of the insurer's designated "primary state" governing the policy, though secondary states retain certain oversight powers.