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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to advertising by certain licensed freestanding emergency |
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medical care facilities; providing an administrative penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 254, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. NOTICE OF CHARGES |
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Sec. 254.251. NOTICE. A facility licensed under this |
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chapter that charges for its services the usual and customary rate |
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charged for the same service by a hospital emergency room in the |
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same region of the state or located in a region of the state with |
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comparable rates for emergency health care services shall post |
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notice in a conspicuous place in the facility to prospective |
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patients that the facility charges rates comparable to a hospital |
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emergency room. |
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Sec. 254.252. RULES. The executive commissioner of the |
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Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules for the |
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notice described by Section 254.251. |
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Sec. 254.253. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. The commissioner of |
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health may assess an administrative penalty under Section 254.205 |
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against a facility that violates this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules relating to the notice |
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required under Subchapter F, Chapter 254, Health and Safety Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |