---
title: "Psych News Alert: APA Supports Liability Relief Bill Passed by House"
description: APA is supporting the Help Efficient Accessible Low-cost Timely Healthcare Act (H.R. 5) which was approved by the House of Representatives y...
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_61569622-Jun-24-2025-10-47-25-6427-PM.jpg
---

 3/23/12 12:00 AM

# APA Supports Liability Relief Bill Passed by House

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert)

Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/apa-supports-liability-relief-bill.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/apa-supports-liability-relief-bill.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/apa-supports-liability-relief-bill.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/apa-supports-liability-relief-bill.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/apa-supports-liability-relief-bill.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_61569622-Jun-24-2025-10-47-27-8015-PM.jpg?width=200&height=133&name=shutterstock_61569622-Jun-24-2025-10-47-27-8015-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_61569622-Jun-24-2025-10-47-26-7362-PM.jpg) APA is supporting the Help Efficient Accessible Low-cost Timely Healthcare Act (H.R. 5) which was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday.  In a memorandum sent to the APA Board of Trustees yesterday, APA’s Division of Government Relations (DGR) said H.R. 5 will provide needed relief for physicians burdened by medical malpractice insurance costs by capping noneconomic damages at $250,000. An amendment was also adopted that would grant liability protection to health professionals who volunteer at federally declared disaster sites. 

The bill was combined with the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act (H.R. 452) which, as reported by *Psychiatric News Alert* this morning, would eliminate the Medicare Payment Advisory Board established under the health care reform law. “APA has expressed significant concern regarding the controversial panel, which will have unprecedented power to make cuts in Medicare physician reimbursement without congressional approval or appropriate oversight,” DGR said in its memo to the Board. For more information about APA's support of medical liability reform, see *Psychiatric News* [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=180743).

(Image: Dave Newman/Shutterstock.com)

[Liability reform](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/liability-reform), [Congress](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/congress), [malpractice](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/malpractice)

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[Medicare](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medicare), [American Psychiatric Association](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/american-psychiatric-association), [MIPS](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mips), [MACRA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/macra)

## [Avoid Medicare Penalties With Aid of New APA Resource](https://alert.psychnews.org/2017/09/avoid-medicare-penalties-with-aid-of.html)

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[Medicare](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medicare), [suicide](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/suicide), [Jeffrey Geller](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jeffrey-geller), [mental health parity](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mental-health-parity), [COVID-19](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/covid-19), [hearing](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/hearing)

## [Geller Testifies on Mental Health Needs During Pandemic and Beyond](https://alert.psychnews.org/2020/06/geller-testifies-before-subcommittee-on.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 6/30/20 12:00 AM

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[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_65421169-Jun-24-2025-07-23-49-2306-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_65421169-Jun-24-2025-07-23-49-2306-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/ama-applauds-vote-to-eliminate-medicare.html)

[health reform](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/health-reform), [AMA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ama), [Medicare payment](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medicare-payment)

## [AMA Applauds Vote to Eliminate Medicare Payment Board](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/ama-applauds-vote-to-eliminate-medicare.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 3/23/12 12:00 AM

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/ama-applauds-vote-to-eliminate-medicare.html)

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