|
House Bill 1376 |
House Author: Kolkhorst |
|
Effective: 9-1-13 |
Senate Sponsor: Nelson |
House Bill 1376 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit a freestanding emergency medical care facility that is exempt from certain licensing requirements from advertising or holding itself out as a medical office, facility, or provider other than an emergency room if the facility charges for its services the usual and customary rate charged for the same service by a hospital emergency room in the same region of the state or located in a region of the state with comparable rates for emergency health care services. The bill requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules for a notice to be posted in a conspicuous place in such a facility that notifies prospective patients that the facility is an emergency room and charges rates comparable to a hospital emergency room. The bill authorizes the commissioner of health to assess an administrative penalty against a hospital that violates the bill's provisions.