By Shields H.B. No. 3698
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to allowing Health Maintenance Organization enrollees to
1-3 choose a nonnetwork pediatrician as primary care physician.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. The Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act
1-6 (Chapter 20A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), Section 9B is amended
1-7 by adding the following section:
1-8 (s) A parent of a minor enrollee may choose and use any
1-9 pediatrician as the minor enrollee's primary care physician without
1-10 being charged any additional fee or premium. A notification of the
1-11 choice of pediatrician by the parent of an enrollee under this
1-12 subsection must include information specified by the State Board of
1-13 Insurance, including a statement indicating the name of the
1-14 pediatrician, and must be signed by the enrollee and the
1-15 pediatrician interested in serving as the enrollee's primary care
1-16 physician. To be eligible to serve as the enrollee's primary care
1-17 physician, the pediatrician must:
1-18 (1) meet the health maintenance organization's
1-19 requirements for primary care physician participation; and
1-20 (2) be willing to accept the coordination of all of
1-21 the enrollee's health care needs.
2-1 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect beginning September 1,
2-2 1999.
2-3 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.