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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to payments to health care providers when a claim is denied |
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under the workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 413.042(a), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A health care provider may not pursue a private claim |
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against a workers' compensation claimant for all or part of the cost |
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of a health care service provided to the claimant by the provider |
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unless: |
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(1) the injury is finally adjudicated not compensable |
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under this subtitle or the employee fails to request a benefit |
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review conference to dispute the insurance carrier's denial of |
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compensability under Chapter 410 before the 46th day after the date |
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of receipt of the denial; or |
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(2) the employee violates Section 408.022 relating to |
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the selection of a doctor and the doctor did not know of the |
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violation at the time the services were rendered. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a |
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compensable injury that occurs on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before |
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that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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compensable injury occurred, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |