Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 18122

Rule of construction regarding health care providers

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (3), the development, recognition, or implementation of any guideline or other standard under any Federal health care provision shall not be construed to establish the standard of care or duty of care owed by a health care provider to a patient in any medical malpractice or medical product liability action or claim.

(2)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:
(A)

Federal health care provision

Public Law 111–148Public Law 111–15242 U.S.C. 139542 U.S.C. 1396The term “Federal health care provision” means any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (), title I or subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (), or title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act ( et seq., et seq.).

(B)

Health care provider

The term “health care provider” means any individual, group practice, corporation of health care professionals, or hospital—
(i)
licensed, registered, or certified under Federal or State laws or regulations to provide health care services; or
(ii)
required to be so licensed, registered, or certified but that is exempted by other statute or regulation.
(C)

Medical malpractice or medical product liability action or claim

section 11151(7) of this titlesection 321 of title 21section 262 of this titleThe term “medical malpractice or medical product liability action or claim” means a medical malpractice action or claim (as defined in ) and includes a liability action or claim relating to a health care provider’s prescription or provision of a drug, device, or biological product (as such terms are defined in or ).

(D)

State

The term “State” includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States.

(3)

No preemption

Public Law 111–148Public Law 111–15242 U.S.C. 139542 U.S.C. 1396Nothing in paragraph (1) or any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (), title I or subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (), or title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security Act ( et seq., et seq.) shall be construed to preempt any State or common law governing medical professional or medical product liability actions or claims.

Pub. L. 114–10, title I, § 106(d)129 Stat. 142(, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 111–148124 Stat. 119section 18001 of this titleThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, referred to in pars. (2)(A) and (3), is , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 111–152124 Stat. 1029section 1305 of this titleThe Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, referred to in pars. (2)(A) and (3), is , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2010 Amendment note set out under and Tables.

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 53149 Stat. 620section 1305 of this titleThe Social Security Act, referred to in pars. (2)(A) and (3), is , . Titles XVIII and XIX of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) and XIX (§ 1396 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, and not as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which comprises this chapter.