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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to hospital and emergency medical services lien notice |
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requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 55.001, Property Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows: |
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(5) "Third-party payor" means an entity that provides |
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an insurance, medical service, or health plan by contract or |
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agreement, including an automobile liability insurance or no-fault |
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insurance carrier, and any other plan or program that provides |
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compensation or coverage for expenses incurred by an individual for |
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hospital or emergency medical services for which a lien may attach |
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under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 55, Property Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 55.0055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 55.0055. NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY PAYORS REQUIRED. (a) |
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Not later than the third business day after the date a hospital or |
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emergency medical services provider files a written notice of the |
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lien under Section 55.005, the hospital or emergency medical |
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services provider shall send a copy of the notice by prepaid United |
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States mail to each third-party payor of which the hospital or |
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emergency medical services provider has actual knowledge. |
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(b) If a hospital or medical services provider fails to send |
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a copy of the notice of the lien as required by Subsection (a), the |
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notice of the lien filed under Section 55.005 is void. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a notice of a lien filed on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A notice of a lien filed before the effective date of this Act |
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is covered by the law in effect when the notice of the lien was |
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filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |