This bill amends existing laws regarding damage awards against health care providers in Iowa. It removes the limitation that excluded the loss of dependent or child care due to the death or severe injury of a primary caregiver from being considered as noneconomic damages. Additionally, the bill eliminates the exception of loss of pregnancy from the current cap on noneconomic damages, which is set at $250,000 for personal injury or death claims against health care providers. It also strikes the limitations on the amount of noneconomic damages that a jury can award in cases of substantial or permanent loss, disfigurement, or death, which were previously capped at $1 million or $2 million if a hospital was involved.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the provisions regarding punitive or exemplary damages. It removes the requirement that the full amount of such damages must be awarded to claimants in cases against certain health care professionals or hospitals arising from patient care. It also eliminates the stipulation that limits the amount of punitive damages a claimant can receive if the claim does not involve specific health care providers or is related to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle. The changes made by this bill will apply to causes of action that accrue on or after July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 147.136A