This bill aims to revise laws related to physician assistants and amend the definition of "health care provider" to include "physician assistant." It also addresses the limitation on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, specifically maintaining a cap of $250,000 for awards related to noneconomic loss stemming from a single incident of malpractice. The bill clarifies that this limitation applies to all claims for noneconomic loss deriving from injuries to a patient, regardless of whether the claims arise from the same act or multiple acts by one or more health care providers.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for determining awards in malpractice claims, including the burden of proof for claimants and the order of reductions for awards exceeding the $250,000 limit. It specifies that future damages for noneconomic loss cannot be discounted to present value and that the $250,000 limit should not be disclosed to a jury. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 25-9-411
HB0458_1(1): 25-9-411
HB0458_1(2): 25-9-411
HB0458_1(3): 25-9-411
HB0458_1(4): 25-9-411
HB0458_1(5): 25-9-411
HB0458_1: 25-9-411
HB0458_2(1): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(10): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(11): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(12): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(2): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(3): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(4): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(5): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(6): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(7): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(8): 25-9-411
HB0458_2(9): 25-9-411
HB0458_2: 25-9-411
HB0458_X(1): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(10): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(11): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(12): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(13): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(2): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(3): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(4): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(5): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(6): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(7): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(8): 25-9-411
HB0458_X(9): 25-9-411
HB0458_X: 25-9-411