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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to itemized billing for health care services and supplies |
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provided by health care providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subtitle J to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE J. PAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND SUPPLIES |
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CHAPTER 185. HEALTH CARE BILLING |
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Sec. 185.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Debt collection" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 392.001, Finance Code. |
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(2) "Health care provider" means a hospital or |
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freestanding emergency medical care facility licensed under |
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Chapter 254, Health and Safety Code. |
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(3) "Health care service" means a service provided to |
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an individual by a health care provider to diagnose, prevent, |
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treat, alleviate, cure, or heal a human health condition, illness, |
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injury, or disease. |
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Sec. 185.002. ITEMIZED BILL REQUIRED. Before a health care |
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provider pursues any debt collection against a patient for whom the |
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provider provided a health care service or related supply, the |
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provider shall issue to the patient a written itemized bill of |
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charges for all health care services and supplies provided to the |
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patient during the visit to the provider. The bill must include the |
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amount charged for each health care service and supply provided to |
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the patient by that provider and any other provider during that |
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visit. |
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Sec. 185.003. DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY LICENSING AUTHORITY. |
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The appropriate licensing authority may take disciplinary action |
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against a health care provider that violates this chapter as if the |
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provider violated an applicable licensing law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |