Pre- and Post-Suit Notice: Medical Authorizations & the 120-Day Expert Report

This article examines the pre- and post-suit notice requirements applicable to Texas health care liability claims, with particular emphasis on medical authorizations and the 120-day expert report deadline. The authors analyze the statutory purposes of these procedural requirements and their role in early case evaluation and claim screening. The article surveys Texas appellate decisions addressing common disputes over compliance, sufficiency, and timing of notices and expert reports. It also discusses practical pitfalls that can result in dismissal or delay when statutory requirements are not strictly followed. The authors conclude by offering guidance to practitioners on coordinating presuit disclosures and expert report obligations to navigate Chapter 74 effectively.