76R12291 AJA-F By Bailey H.B. No. 2883 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2883: By Wise C.S.H.B. No. 2883 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to contracts between podiatrists and health care plans. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 3, Article 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, as 1-5 added by Chapter 1024, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular 1-6 Session, 1997, is amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as 1-7 follows: 1-8 (n) A preferred provider contract between an insurer and a 1-9 podiatrist licensed by the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical 1-10 Examiners must provide that: 1-11 (1) the podiatrist may request, and the insurer shall 1-12 provide not later than the 30th day after the date of the request, 1-13 a copy of the coding guidelines and payment schedules applicable to 1-14 the compensation that the podiatrist will receive under the 1-15 contract for services; 1-16 (2) the insurer may not unilaterally make material 1-17 retroactive revisions to the coding guidelines and payment 1-18 schedules; and 1-19 (3) the podiatrist may furnish x-rays and 1-20 non-prefabricated orthotics covered by the health insurance policy. 1-21 SECTION 2. Section 18A, Texas Health Maintenance 1-22 Organization Act (Article 20A.18A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), 1-23 as added by Chapter 1026, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular 1-24 Session, 1997, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as 2-1 follows: 2-2 (j) A contract between a health maintenance organization and 2-3 a podiatrist licensed by the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical 2-4 Examiners must provide that: 2-5 (1) the podiatrist may request, and the insurer shall 2-6 provide not later than the 30th day after the date of the request, 2-7 a copy of the coding guidelines and payment schedules applicable to 2-8 the compensation that the podiatrist will receive under the 2-9 contract for services; 2-10 (2) the insurer may not unilaterally make material 2-11 retroactive revisions to the coding guidelines and payment 2-12 schedules; and 2-13 (3) the podiatrist may furnish x-rays and 2-14 non-prefabricated orthotics covered by the evidence of coverage. 2-15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and 2-16 applies only to a contract between an insurer or health maintenance 2-17 organization and a podiatrist that is entered into on or after the 2-18 effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the 2-19 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect 2-20 immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is 2-21 continued in effect for that purpose. 2-22 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.