SB413 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Medical malpractice, administrative Patient Compensation System created to provide for an administrative process for certain medical injuries, Patient Compensation Board established, annual contributions by certain health care providers required

Summary

SB413 would replace most medical malpractice lawsuits with a mandatory administrative system that determines compensation for medical injuries.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama Patient Compensation System, overseen by a Patient Compensation Board and staffed by offices for medical review, compensation, and quality improvement. Starting January 1, 2017, injured patients must file an application; the Office of Medical Review checks for prima facie evidence of a medical injury, and contested cases go to an Independent Medical Review Panel. If a medical injury is confirmed, compensation is paid according to a board-adopted schedule, funded by annual practitioner contributions, with appeals allowed to the circuit court. The system also preempts most post-2017 medical malpractice claims, and provides for reporting and governance processes.

Who It Affects

• Health care practitioners in Alabama who must pay annual contributions based on their practice type to fund compensation payments and the administration of the system, with licensure actions possible for nonpayment.
• Patients or their legal representatives who would file applications to obtain compensation for medical injuries and navigate the administrative review process with potential appeals.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Patient Compensation System, the Patient Compensation Board, and the Office of Medical Review, the Office of Compensation, and the Office of Quality Improvement to administer the program and set rules, including a funding structure through practitioner contributions and a dedicated Patient Compensation Fund.
• A two-track process for determining compensation: (1) initial prima facie evaluation by the Office of Medical Review and (2) independent medical review panels if contested, with final compensation determined by the Office of Compensation and subject to circuit court appeal.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health