HBA-TYH H.B. 3180 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3180 By: Lewis, Glenn Insurance 4/6/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The market power of certain health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other managed care organizations may allow them to dictate a provision providing for "all products." Under this provision, if a physician or other health provider wishes to be a participant in one product they must also be a provider in all of the products, including an HMO product offered by the HMO or managed care organization. By including a beneficiary and health care provider as potential subjects of an unfair settlement practice, H.B. 3180 clarifies that if a health benefit plan offers multiple products, it may not tie participation in one product to a requirement for participation in one or more of the plan's other products. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 10(10), Article 21.21, Insurance Code, to define unfair settlement practices as engaging in any of the enumerated unfair settlement practices with respect to a claim by an insured, beneficiary, health care provider, or person or entity with which one has contracted to provide services to an insured or beneficiary, as appropriate. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.