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. 1-54 * * * * *