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.
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