AN ACT
1-1 relating to contracts between podiatrists and health care plans.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Section 3, Article 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, as
1-4 added by Chapter 1024, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular
1-5 Session, 1997, is amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 (n) A preferred provider contract between an insurer and a
1-8 podiatrist licensed by the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical
1-9 Examiners must provide that:
1-10 (1) the podiatrist may request, and the insurer shall
1-11 provide not later than the 30th day after the date of the request,
1-12 a copy of the coding guidelines and payment schedules applicable to
1-13 the compensation that the podiatrist will receive under the
1-14 contract for services;
1-15 (2) the insurer may not unilaterally make material
1-16 retroactive revisions to the coding guidelines and payment
1-17 schedules; and
1-18 (3) the podiatrist may, practicing within the scope of
1-19 the law regulating podiatry, furnish x-rays and nonprefabricated
1-20 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, practicing within the scope of
2-14 the law regulating podiatry, furnish x-rays and nonprefabricated
2-15 orthotics covered by the evidence of coverage.
2-16 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
2-17 applies only to a contract between an insurer or health maintenance
2-18 organization and a podiatrist that is entered into on or after the
2-19 effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the
2-20 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
2-21 immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
2-22 continued in effect for that purpose.
2-23 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
S.B. No. 781
3-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
________________________________ ________________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 781 passed the Senate on
April 20, 1999, by a viva-voce vote; May 18, 1999, Senate refused
to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of
Conference Committee; May 20, 1999, House granted request of the
Senate; May 27, 1999, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by
a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 781 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 13, 1999, by a non-record vote; May 20, 1999,
House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference
Committee; May 26, 1999, House adopted Conference Committee Report
by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
________________________________
Date
________________________________
Governor