SRC-EPT, TBR S.B. 1181 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1181 By: Shapleigh Business & Commerce 6/14/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Texas law does not require the employees of health insurance companies and related entities to disclose their identity when requested by a person insured by the company. S.B. 1181 requires an employee of a health benefit plan to disclose the name or employee identifier, mailing address, business city and state location, and job title of the employee who is available to respond to communications and questions relating to coverage and benefits provided by the health benefit plan, upon oral or written request. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21C, Insurance Code, by adding Article 21.24-3 as follows: Art. 21.24-3. IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR RELATED ENTITY Sec. 1. DEFINITION. Provides that in this article, "health benefit plan" means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is offered by certain entities. Sec. 2. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED. Requires the health benefit plan, after an oral or written request by an insured or enrollee of a health benefit plan for the information, to provide to the insured or enrollee the name or employee identifier, mailing address, business city and state location, and job title of the employee of the issuer of the health benefit plan who is available to the enrollee or insured to respond to communications and questions from the insured or enrollee relating to coverages and benefits provided by the health benefit plan to the insured or enrollee. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.