MA H1706

Extends medical peer review protections to committees formed by individual health care providers, physician group practices, and licensed facilities, even when not required by law or affiliated solely with hospitals, nursing homes, or HMOs

Changes prejudgment interest rate in medical malpractice cases from the standard rate to the weekly average 1-year Treasury yield plus 2%, capped at the current statutory rate under Section 6B of Chapter 231

Bars plaintiffs from recovering for "loss of chance" claims (lost opportunity to survive or achieve better outcome) unless the lost opportunity exceeded 50%

Requires malpractice plaintiffs to prove four elements: the applicable professional standard of care, defendant's failure to meet that standard, direct causation of injuries, and existence of a patient-provider relationship creating a duty of care

Limits Chapter 93A (consumer protection) damage multipliers in healthcare cases to apply only to judgment interest rather than the full underlying judgment amount