An Act amending the act of March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, in medical professional liability, further providing for definitions and for expert qualifications.

HB 2088 amends Pennsylvania's MCARE Act to clarify requirements for medical malpractice lawsuits. It defines a "certificate of merit" as a written statement from a licensed expert confirming a doctor's care fell below professional standards, requiring this to be filed with the complaint or within 60 days of filing. The bill mandates that experts testifying about medical standards must be licensed physicians actively practicing or recently retired (within five years) in the same specialty as the defendant doctor, with board certification in that specialty. These changes directly affect patients filing malpractice claims, doctors defending such claims, and medical experts providing testimony.