1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to requiring health insurers and related entities to 1-3 disclose certain information. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Article 21.24-3 to read as follows: 1-7 Art. 21.24-3. IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR 1-8 RELATED ENTITY 1-9 Sec. 1. DEFINITION. In this article, "health benefit plan" 1-10 means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical 1-11 expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or 1-12 sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise 1-13 insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service 1-14 contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar 1-15 coverage document that is offered by: 1-16 (1) an insurance company; 1-17 (2) a group hospital service corporation operating 1-18 under Chapter 20 of this code; 1-19 (3) a fraternal benefit society operating under 1-20 Chapter 10 of this code; 1-21 (4) a stipulated premium insurance company operating 1-22 under Chapter 22 of this code; 1-23 (5) a reciprocal exchange operating under Chapter 19 1-24 of this code; 1-25 (6) a health maintenance organization operating under 2-1 the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A, 2-2 Vernon's Texas Insurance Code); 2-3 (7) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds 2-4 a certificate of authority under Article 3.95-2 of this code; or 2-5 (8) an approved nonprofit health corporation that 2-6 holds a certificate of authority under Article 21.52F of this code. 2-7 Sec. 2. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED. After an oral or written 2-8 request by an insured or enrollee of a health benefit plan for the 2-9 information, the issuer of the health benefit plan shall provide to 2-10 the insured or enrollee the name or employee identifier, mailing 2-11 address, business city and state location, and job title of the 2-12 employee of the issuer of the health benefit plan who is available 2-13 to the enrollee or insured to respond to communications and 2-14 questions from the insured or enrollee relating to coverage and 2-15 benefits provided by the health benefit plan to the insured or 2-16 enrollee. 2-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-18 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-19 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-20 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-21 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1181 passed the Senate on April 20, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 26, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1181 passed the House, with amendment, on May 23, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor