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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; authorizing an administrative |
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penalty. |
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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 an individual or |
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facility licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide |
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health care services or supplies in this state in the ordinary |
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course of business or professional practice, including a physician |
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or a hospital. |
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(3) "Health care service" means a service a health |
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care provider provides to an individual 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. (a) A health care |
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provider that requests payment from a patient after providing a |
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health care service or related supply to the patient shall submit |
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with the request a written, itemized bill of the alleged cost of |
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each service and supply provided to the patient during the |
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patient's visit to the provider. The provider must submit the |
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itemized bill not later than the 30th day after the provider |
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receives a final payment on the provided service or supply from a |
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third party. |
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(b) The itemized bill must include: |
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(1) a plain language description of each distinct |
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health care service or supply the health care provider provided to |
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the patient; |
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(2) if the provider sought or is seeking reimbursement |
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from a third party, any billing code submitted to the third party |
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and the amounts billed to and paid by that third party; and |
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(3) the amount the provider alleges is due from the |
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patient for each service and supply provided to the patient. |
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(c) A health care provider may issue the itemized bill |
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electronically, including through a patient portal on the |
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provider's Internet website. |
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(d) A patient is entitled to obtain from the health care |
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provider an itemized bill on request at any time after the itemized |
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bill is initially issued under Subsection (a). |
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(e) A health care provider may not pursue debt collection |
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against a patient for a provided health care service or supply |
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unless the provider has complied with this section. |
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Sec. 185.003. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY AND OTHER |
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DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY LICENSING AUTHORITY. The appropriate |
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licensing authority shall impose an administrative penalty against |
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a health care provider that violates this chapter in the amount of |
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$1,000 for each violation and may also take other disciplinary |
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action against the provider for the violation as if the provider |
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violated an applicable licensing law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |