Sec. 74.302. ALTERNATIVE LIMITATION ON NONECONOMIC DAMAGES

(a) In the event that Section 74.301 is stricken from this subchapter or is otherwise to any extent invalidated by a method other than through legislative means, the following, subject to the provisions of this section, shall become effective:

(1) In an action on a health care liability claim where final judgment is rendered against a physician or health care provider other than a health care institution, the limit of civil liability for noneconomic damages of the physician or health care provider other than a health care institution, inclusive of all persons and entities for which vicarious liability theories may apply, shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each claimant, regardless of the number of defendant physicians or health care providers other than a health care institution against whom the claim is asserted or the number of separate causes of action on which the claim is based.

(2) In an action on a health care liability claim where final judgment is rendered against a single health care institution, the limit of civil liability for noneconomic damages inclusive of all persons and entities for which vicarious liability theories may apply, shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each claimant.

(3) In an action on a health care liability claim where final judgment is rendered against more than one health care institution, the limit of civil liability for noneconomic damages for each health care institution, inclusive of all persons and entities for which vicarious liability theories may apply, shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each claimant and the limit of civil liability for noneconomic damages for all health care institutions, inclusive of all persons and entities for which vicarious liability theories may apply, shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $500,000 for each claimant.

(b) Effective before September 1, 2005, Subsection (a) of this section applies to any physician or health care provider that provides evidence of financial responsibility in the following amounts in effect for any act or omission to which this subchapter applies:

(1) at least $100,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $300,000 in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician participating in an approved residency program;

(2) at least $200,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $600,000 in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician or health care provider, other than a hospital; and

(3) at least $500,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $1.5 million in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a hospital.

(c) Effective September 1, 2005, Subsection (a) of this section applies to any physician or health care provider that provides evidence of financial responsibility in the following amounts in effect for any act or omission to which this subchapter applies:

(1) at least $100,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $300,000 in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician participating in an approved residency program;

(2) at least $300,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $900,000 in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician or health care provider, other than a hospital; and

(3) at least $750,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $2.25 million in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a hospital.

(d) Effective September 1, 2007, Subsection (a) of this section applies to any physician or health care provider that provides evidence of financial responsibility in the following amounts in effect for any act or omission to which this subchapter applies:

(1) at least $100,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $300,000 in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician participating in an approved residency program;

(2) at least $500,000 for each health care liability claim and at least $1 million in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a physician or health care provider, other than a hospital; and

(3) at least $1 million for each health care liability claim and at least $3 million in aggregate for all health care liability claims occurring in an insurance policy year, calendar year, or fiscal year for a hospital.

(e) Evidence of financial responsibility may be established at the time of judgment by providing proof of:

(1) the purchase of a contract of insurance or other plan of insurance authorized by this state or federal law or regulation;

(2) the purchase of coverage from a trust organized and operating under Article 21.49-4, Insurance Code;

(3) the purchase of coverage or another plan of insurance provided by or through a risk retention group or purchasing group authorized under applicable laws of this state or under the Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1981 (15 U.S.C. Section 3901 et seq.), as amended, or the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C. Section 3901 et seq.), as amended, or any other contract or arrangement for transferring and distributing risk relating to legal liability for damages, including cost or defense, legal costs, fees, and other claims expenses; or

(4) the maintenance of financial reserves in or an irrevocable letter of credit from a federally insured financial institution that has its main office or a branch office in this state.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.