MINN. HOUSE COMMITTEE OKs MED-MAL LIMIT:

After deliberating whether it would hurt already injured patients and not lower health care costs, opponents of a measure that would limit damages in malpractice suits failed to strip the controversial provision from a House health care cost containment bill Monday, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Rep. Fran Bradley (R-Rochester), the bill’s chief author, did ease some of the financial sting for injured patients by dropping a $300,000 cap on all medical malpractice settlements involving nonprofit hospitals. The newspaper also reported that he did, however, retain a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages awarded for things such as pain and suffering, disfigurement and loss of companionship.