Repeals the collateral source rule in medical malpractice actions.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change how medical malpractice lawsuits work in Rhode Island by eliminating what's known as the "collateral source rule." Currently, under this rule, if someone is injured due to a doctor's or hospital's negligence, the amount of money the wrongdoer must pay cannot be reduced just because the injured person already received payment from another source — like their health insurance, workers' compensation, or disability benefits. In other words, right now, defendants in malpractice cases cannot tell a jury "the patient's insurance already covered this," and use that to lower what they owe.

If this bill passes, that protection would be removed in medical malpractice cases. A defendant — such as a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider — could point to payments the injured patient already received from their insurance or other sources, and the compensation they're required to pay could be reduced by that amount. For example, if a patient's health insurance paid $50,000 in medical bills resulting from malpractice, the negligent provider might only have to pay the remaining costs rather than the full amount.

This bill primarily affects patients harmed by medical negligence and the healthcare providers or institutions being sued. Patients and their advocates may view this as a reduction in their ability to be fully compensated, while healthcare providers and insurers may see it as a way to prevent "double recovery" and potentially lower malpractice insurance costs. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it is currently being held for further study.