By: Bonnen H.B. No. 4893
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to unconditional designation of hospitals as
  participating providers in a managed care plan.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 8, Insurance Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 1462 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 1462.  UNCONDITIONAL DESIGNATION AS PREFERRED PROVIDER
         Sec. 1462.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Hospital" means a licensed public or private
  institution as defined by Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or
  Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code.
               (2)  "Managed care plan" means a health benefit plan
  under which health care services are provided to enrollees through
  contracts with hospitals and that requires enrollees to use
  participating hospitals or that provides a different level of
  coverage for enrollees who use participating hospitals.  The term
  includes a health benefit plan issued by:
                     (A)  a health maintenance organization;
                     (B)  a preferred provider benefit plan issuer; or
                     (C)  any other entity that issues a health benefit
  plan, including an insurance company.
               (3)  "Participating hospital" means a hospital that has
  directly or indirectly contracted with a health benefit plan issuer
  to provide services to enrollees.
         Sec. 1462.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  (a)
  Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter applies to:
               (1)  a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
               (2)  a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
               (3)  a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
  and
               (4)  basic coverage under Chapter 1601.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter applies to
  coverage under:
               (1)  the child health plan program under Chapter 62,
  Health and Safety Code; and
               (2)  a Medicaid managed care program operated under
  Chapter 533, Government Code.
         Sec. 1462.003.  UNCONDITIONAL DESIGNATION AS PARTICIPATING
  HOSPITAL. Notwithstanding any other law, any hospital may apply
  for a designation as a participating provider in a managed care
  plan, and the managed care plan issuer or administrator shall
  designate the hospital as a participating hospital in the plan.
         Sec. 1462.004.  REQUIRED REIMBURSEMENT RATE. A managed care
  plan shall reimburse a participating physician designated under
  Section 1462.003 at a rate 90% of the highest contracted rated for
  the same service
         SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 1462, Insurance Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for
  delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.