1-1 By: Averitt (Senate Sponsor - Sibley) H.B. No. 1211
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999;
1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
1-4 Development; May 13, 1999, reported favorably by the following
1-5 vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to health maintenance organization plans for small
1-9 employers.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Article 26.48(a), Insurance Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 (a) A [Instead of the small employer health benefit plans
1-14 described by this subchapter, a] health maintenance organization
1-15 may offer:
1-16 (1) a state-approved health benefit plan that complies
1-17 with this chapter, the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
1-18 (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), [the requirements of]
1-19 Title XIII, Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300e et
1-20 seq.), and its subsequent amendments, and rules adopted under these
1-21 laws [that Act];
1-22 (2) a plan developed by the commissioner under Article
1-23 26.44A of this code and additional benefit riders to the plan; or
1-24 (3) a point-of-service contract in connection with an
1-25 insurance carrier that includes optional coverage for out-of-area
1-26 services, emergency care, or out-of-network care.
1-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-28 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-29 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-30 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-31 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-32 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-33 * * * * *