By:  Rose                                                         H.B. No. 3230



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to information on preferred provider plans.                          
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 6, Article 3.70-3C, Insurance Code, 
subsection (b) is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 6.  MANDATORY DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS                                     

(b)  The insurer shall provide to a current or prospective group 
contract holder or current or prospective insured on request an 
accurate written or electronic description of the terms and 
conditions of the policy to allow the current or prospective group 
contract holder or current or prospective insured to make 
comparisons and informed decisions before selecting among health 
care plans.  The written or electronic description must be in a 
readable and understandable format as prescribed by the 
commissioner and must include a current list of preferred 
providers.  The insurer may provide its handbook to satisfy this 
requirement provided the handbook's content is substantively 
similar to and achieves the same level of disclosure as the written 
or electronic description prescribed by the commissioner and the 
current list of physicians and health care providers is provided.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1. 2003.