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H.R.144 / 103rd Congress

Health Care Cost Containment Act

See H.R.3600.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 5, 1993

Health Care Cost Containment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals to deduct the full amount of unreimbursed medical and dental expenses. (Current law allows a deduction for such expenses that exceed a certain percentage of adjusted gross income.) Requires the losing party in a medical care liability suit to pay limited amounts of the winning party's litigation expenses. Prohibits noneconomic damages (other than punitive damages) in such suits. Requires punitive damages to be paid to the unit of local government having primary responsibility for paying for indigent health services. Requires those amounts to be used for care for individuals entitled to assistance under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Applies this Act to any medical care liability suit in any State or Federal court, except vaccine-related matters. Supersedes inconsistent State laws.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-47] · R–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
17 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. See H.R.3600.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic and Commercial Law.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Competitiveness.

  5. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  6. Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

  7. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  8. Introduced in House

  9. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.144 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.144 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.144 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.144 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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