SRC-MSY S.B. 494 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 494 78R638 DLF-DBy: Shapleigh State Affairs 2/24/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, health maintenance organizations are required to update their list of health care providers on a quarterly basis, but are not required to indicate these updates on their Internet site. Preferred provider organizations are required to update their lists on an annual basis. In addition, these updates do not indicate which providers are accepting new patients and which are not. As proposed, S.B. 494 requires a wide range of insurance providers to maintain an Internet site listing physicians and providers that may be used by plan enrollees, and to indicate which providers are accepting new patients. Furthermore, the bill requires that the site be updated at least quarterly. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of insurance in SECTION 1 (Art. 21.71A) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21E, Insurance Code, by adding Article 21.71A, as follows: Art. 21.71A. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN INTERNET SITE. (a) Provides that this article applies to a health maintenance organization and an insurer, a group hospital service corporation, a fraternal benefit society, a stipulated premium insurer, a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, a multiple employer welfare arrangement under Chapter 846, and an approved nonprofit health corporation that offers certain plans. (b) Requires an entity subject to this article to maintain an Internet site listing physicians and providers, including mental health and substance abuse providers, that may be used by enrollees in accordance with the terms of the plan in which the enrollee is enrolled. Requires the listing to identify those physicians and providers who continue to be available to provide services to new patients or clients. (c) Requires an entity subject to this article to update the Internet site required by this article at least quarterly. (d) Authorizes the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules necessary to implement this article, including rules that govern the form and content of the Internet site required by this article. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003. SECTION 3. Makes application of this act prospective to January 1, 2004.