According to this site (American Medical Directors Association), the "Health Act" bill hasn't even come up for debate in the Senate yet. If that's true, then we can chalk up another manipulative lie from the Bush people:

"The House of Representatives has passed broad liability reform legislation as Senate Republican staffers, led by Senator Bill Frist's Office (R-TN), met with representatives from the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) to obtain input on future strategy. The Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2004 (H.R. 4280) ensures victims are fully compensated for any and all injuries suffered, but it curbs runaway lawsuits by capping the amount of damages under "pain and suffering" and "punitive damages." The bill, which was later incorporated into H.R. 4279, also seeks to address a growing concern that frivolous lawsuits and excessive courtroom costs have put emergency room doctors and other health care specialists such as OB/GYNs on the list of endangered health care professionals. "Patients need to be treated by doctors in hospital rooms, not by trial lawyers in courtrooms," Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said. "This legislation will help keep doctors on the job because critical care is in critical condition."

Chances of passage of any medical liability bill in the Senate in 2004 are unlikely. According to Senate staff who met with the HCLA--a group of more than 50 organizations representing health care providers,employers, insurers, and health care consumer seeking common sense federal medical liability reforms--it will be difficult to schedule time for debate since many important bills, such as budget bills, remain for action, and Congressional calendar days are limited in light of the fall election. The real hope is for passage of legislation in 2005."