HB 1065 Summary

• Creates a Patient Compensation System as an alternative to medical malpractice litigation, effective July 1, 2017, administered by a 11-member Patient Compensation Board with representatives from medical, legal, patient, and business communities

• Establishes a "medical injury" standard broader than negligence, covering treatment not conforming to national practice standards or executed in substandard fashion, with compensation determined by an independent medical review panel

• Makes the system an exclusive remedy for medical injuries from participating providers, prohibiting traditional malpractice lawsuits for qualifying cases and preventing National Practitioner Data Bank reporting

• Requires medical providers to contribute annually to fund the system based on specialty (ranging from $1,800 to $21,900), with providers able to opt out by written election 15 days before contribution due date

• Mandates completion of a 2-hour course on medical error communication and prevention as part of healthcare provider licensure and renewal, including study of root cause analysis and patient safety