SS/SB 31 - Under the act, special damages claimed by the plaintiff at trial that have been satisfied by a payment from a defendant, the defendant's insurer, or authorized representative prior to trial are not recoverable. The defendant is entitled to deduct such payments towards special damages from any judgement as provided in current law. Parties may introduce evidence of the actual cost, rather than the value, of the medical care or treatment to the plaintiff, and the act repeals a provision of law which provides that there is a rebuttable presumption that the value of the medical treatment provided is represented by the dollar amount necessary to satisfy the financial obligation to the health care provider. The actual cost of the medical care or treatment shall not exceed the dollar amounts paid by or on behalf of a patient whose care is at issue plus any remaining amount necessary to satisfy the financial obligation for medical care by a health care provider after adjustment for any contractual discounts or price reduction.
This act is similar to HB 95 (2017), identical to the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 847 (2016), and similar to SB 227 (2015).
JESSI BAKER