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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the assignment of health insurance benefits to a |
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physician or health care provider. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1204.053, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an assignment of |
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benefits by a covered person to a physician or other health care |
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provider authorizes the physician or health care provider to take |
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any action the covered person is authorized to take to recover |
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reimbursement from the insurer for benefits under the health |
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insurance policy or any law or rule applicable to the policy, |
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including an action under: |
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(1) Chapter 541, 542, or 1467; or |
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(2) Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code. |
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(d) An assignment of benefits may limit the authority of a |
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physician or health care provider to take one or more specific |
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actions otherwise authorized under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. Section 1204.053, Insurance Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies to an assignment of benefits made on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An assignment of benefits made before |
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that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |