Committee hears testimony on House Bill 195 to raise non‑economic damages cap in medical malpractice cases

Helena ' Lawmakers heard competing testimony on House Bill 195 on Thursday as proponents urged raising Montana's cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits and opponents warned the change would limit compensation for some injured patients.

Representative Bill Mercer, the bill sponsor, opened the hearing by describing the proposal as an update to the existing statute: "House Bill 195 has been a little bit damaged as caps in the context of medical malpractice liability," he said, and asked the committee for a "due pass" on the measure.

The bill would raise Montana's $250,000 statutory cap on non-economic damages (the portion of an award for pain and suffering and other non-quantifiable losses) in steps and apply an annual adjuster, proponents said. "Non economic damages are things like emotional distress," attorney Sean Goichia told the committee, adding that the bill does not…