By: Hughes, Bettencourt, West  S.B. No. 490
         (In the Senate - Filed January 18, 2023; February 17, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human
  Services; April 24, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 24, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to itemized billing for health care services and supplies
  provided by health care providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subtitle J to read as follows:
  SUBTITLE J.  PAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND SUPPLIES
  CHAPTER 185.  HEALTH CARE BILLING
         Sec. 185.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Debt collection" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 392.001, Finance Code.
               (2)  "Health care provider" means an individual or
  facility licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide
  health care services or supplies in this state in the ordinary
  course of business or professional practice, including a physician
  or a hospital.
               (3)  "Health care service" means a service a health
  care provider provides to an individual to diagnose, prevent,
  treat, alleviate, cure, or heal a human health condition, illness,
  injury, or disease.
         Sec. 185.002.  ITEMIZED BILL REQUIRED. (a)  A health care
  provider that requests payment from a patient for a health care
  service or related supply provided to the patient shall submit with
  the request a written, itemized bill of charges for all health care
  services and supplies provided to the patient during the patient's
  visit to the provider.
         (b)  The itemized bill must include:
               (1)  the amount the health care provider agrees to
  accept as full payment for each health care service and supply that
  provider provided to the patient;
               (2)  a plain language description of each distinct
  health care service or supply; and
               (3)  if reimbursement is sought from a third party, any
  billing code submitted to the third party and the amounts billed to
  and paid by that third party.
         (c)  A health care provider may issue the itemized bill
  electronically, including through a patient portal on the
  provider's Internet website.
         (d)  A patient is entitled to obtain from the health care
  provider an itemized bill on request at any time after the itemized
  bill is initially issued under Subsection (a).
         (e)  A health care provider may not pursue debt collection
  against a patient for a provided health care service or supply
  unless the provider has complied with this section.
         Sec. 185.003.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY LICENSING AUTHORITY.
  The appropriate licensing authority may take disciplinary action
  against a health care provider that violates this chapter as if the
  provider violated an applicable licensing law.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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