1-1     By:  Shapleigh                                        S.B. No. 1181
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2001; March 8, 2001, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
 1-4     April 9, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 9, 2001,
 1-6     sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1181               By:  Shapleigh
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to requiring health insurers and related entities to
1-11     disclose certain information.
1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is
1-14     amended by adding Article 21.24-3 to read as follows:
1-15           Art. 21.24-3.  IDENTITY OF EMPLOYEE FOR HEALTH INSURER OR
1-16     RELATED ENTITY
1-17           Sec. 1.  DEFINITION.  In this article, "health benefit plan"
1-18     means a plan that provides benefits for medical or surgical
1-19     expenses incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or
1-20     sickness, including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise
1-21     insurance policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service
1-22     contract, or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar
1-23     coverage document that is offered by:
1-24                 (1)  an insurance company;
1-25                 (2)  a group hospital service corporation operating
1-26     under Chapter 20 of this code;
1-27                 (3)  a fraternal benefit society operating under
1-28     Chapter 10 of this code;
1-29                 (4)  a stipulated premium insurance company operating
1-30     under Chapter 22 of this code;
1-31                 (5)  a reciprocal exchange operating under Chapter 19
1-32     of this code;
1-33                 (6)  a health maintenance organization operating under
1-34     the Texas Health Maintenance Organization Act (Chapter 20A,
1-35     Vernon's Texas Insurance Code);
1-36                 (7)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
1-37     a certificate of authority under Article 3.95-2 of this code; or
1-38                 (8)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
1-39     holds a certificate of authority under Article 21.52F of this code.
1-40           Sec. 2.  DISCLOSURE REQUIRED.  After an oral or written
1-41     request by an insured or enrollee of a health benefit plan for the
1-42     information, the issuer of the health benefit plan shall provide to
1-43     the insured or enrollee the name, business address, and job title
1-44     of the employee of the issuer of the health benefit plan who shall
1-45     be available to the enrollee or insured to respond to
1-46     communications and questions from the insured or enrollee relating
1-47     to coverages and benefits provided by the health benefit plan to
1-48     the insured or enrollee.
1-49           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-50     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-51     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-52     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-53     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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