1-1 By: Madla S.B. No. 781 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 2, 1999; March 3, 1999, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 April 15, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 15, 1999, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 781 By: Madla 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to contracts between podiatrists and health care plans. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Section 3, Article 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, as 1-13 added by Chapter 1024, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular 1-14 Session, 1997, is amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as 1-15 follows: 1-16 (n) A preferred provider contract between an insurer and a 1-17 podiatrist licensed by the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical 1-18 Examiners must provide that: 1-19 (1) the podiatrist may request, and the insurer shall 1-20 provide not later than the 30th day after the date of the request, 1-21 a copy of the coding guidelines and payment schedules applicable to 1-22 the compensation that the podiatrist will receive under the 1-23 contract for services; 1-24 (2) the insurer may not unilaterally make material 1-25 retroactive revisions to the coding guidelines and payment 1-26 schedules; and 1-27 (3) the podiatrist may furnish x-rays and 1-28 nonprefabricated orthotics covered by the health insurance policy. 1-29 SECTION 2. Section 18A, Texas Health Maintenance 1-30 Organization Act (Article 20A.18A, Vernon's Texas Insurance Code), 1-31 as added by Chapter 1026, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular 1-32 Session, 1997, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as 1-33 follows: 1-34 (j) A contract between a health maintenance organization and 1-35 a podiatrist licensed by the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical 1-36 Examiners must provide that: 1-37 (1) the podiatrist may request, and the insurer shall 1-38 provide not later than the 30th day after the date of the request, 1-39 a copy of the coding guidelines and payment schedules applicable to 1-40 the compensation that the podiatrist will receive under the 1-41 contract for services; 1-42 (2) the insurer may not unilaterally make material 1-43 retroactive revisions to the coding guidelines and payment 1-44 schedules; and 1-45 (3) the podiatrist may furnish x-rays and 1-46 nonprefabricated orthotics covered by the evidence of coverage. 1-47 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and 1-48 applies only to a contract between an insurer or health maintenance 1-49 organization and a podiatrist that is entered into on or after the 1-50 effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before the 1-51 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect 1-52 immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is 1-53 continued in effect for that purpose. 1-54 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-55 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-56 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-57 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-58 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-59 * * * * *