85R8580 LED-F
 
  By: Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 2449
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the assignment of health insurance benefits to a
  physician or health care provider.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1204.053, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), an assignment of
  benefits by a covered person to a physician or other health care
  provider authorizes the physician or health care provider to take
  any action the covered person is authorized to take to recover
  reimbursement from the insurer for benefits under the health
  insurance policy or any law or rule applicable to the policy,
  including an action under:
               (1)  Chapter 541, 542, or 1467; or
               (2)  Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code.
         (d)  An assignment of benefits may limit the authority of a
  physician or health care provider to take one or more specific
  actions otherwise authorized under Subsection (c).
         SECTION 2.  Section 1204.053, Insurance Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to an assignment of benefits made on or after the
  effective date of this Act.  An assignment of benefits made before
  that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before
  the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.