H.B. No. 1005
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the timely submission of a claim for payment by a
  workers' compensation health care provider.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is
  amended by adding Section 408.0272 to read as follows:
         Sec. 408.0272.  CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS FOR UNTIMELY SUBMISSION
  OF CLAIM.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Group accident and health insurance" has the
  meaning assigned by Chapter 1251, Insurance Code.
               (2)  "Health maintenance organization" has the meaning
  assigned by Chapter 843, Insurance Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 408.027, a health care provider
  who fails to timely submit a claim for payment to the insurance
  carrier under Section 408.027(a) does not forfeit the provider's
  right to reimbursement for that claim for payment solely for
  failure to submit a timely claim if:
               (1)  the provider submits proof satisfactory to the
  commissioner that the provider, within the period prescribed by
  Section 408.027(a), erroneously filed for reimbursement with:
                     (A)  an insurer that issues a policy of group
  accident and health insurance under which the injured employee is a
  covered insured;
                     (B)  a health maintenance organization that
  issues an evidence of coverage under which the injured employee is a
  covered enrollee; or
                     (C)  a workers' compensation insurance carrier
  other than the insurance carrier liable for the payment of benefits
  under this title; or
               (2)  the commissioner determines that the failure
  resulted from a catastrophic event that substantially interfered
  with the normal business operations of the provider.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a health care provider
  who erroneously submits a claim for payment to an entity described
  by Subdivision (1) of that subsection forfeits the provider's right
  to reimbursement for that claim if the provider fails to submit the
  claim to the correct workers' compensation insurance carrier within
  95 days after the date the provider is notified of the provider's
  erroneous submission of the claim.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or
  Section 408.027, the period for submitting a claim for payment may
  be extended by agreement of the parties.
         SECTION 2.  Section 408.0272, Labor Code, as added by this
  Act, applies to a claim for payment relating to health care services
  rendered on or after the effective date of this Act.  A claim for
  payment relating to health care services rendered before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1005 was passed by the House on April
  25, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 4, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1005 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor