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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 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 for a health care |
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service or related supply provided to the patient shall submit with |
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the request a written, itemized bill of charges for all health care |
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services and supplies provided to the patient during the patient's |
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visit to the provider. |
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(b) The itemized bill must include: |
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(1) the amount the health care provider agrees to |
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accept as full payment for each health care service and supply that |
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provider provided to the patient; |
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(2) a plain language description of each distinct |
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health care service or supply; and |
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(3) if reimbursement is sought from a third party, any |
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billing code submitted to the third party and the amounts billed to |
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and paid by that third party. |
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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. 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, 2023. |