SRC-AMY C.S.H.B. 3109 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 3109
By: Keffer, Bill (Carona)
State Affairs
5-23-2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the identity of physicians or health care providers performing
reviews for insurance companies as part of the utilization review process
is protected under Article 21.58A, Texas Insurance Code.  However,
independent review organizations (IROs) face problems due to the lack of
confidentiality of the identity of physicians and health care providers
who perform reviews.  C.S.H.B. 3109 provides for the confidentiality of
the identity of an individual health care provider or a physician making
review determinations for IROs. 

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 Section 2, Article 21.58C, Insurance Code, by adding
Subsection (h) to provide that information that reveals the identity of a
physician or individual health care provider who makes a review
determination for an independent review organization is confidential.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.