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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice for patients of freestanding emergency medical |
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care facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 254.156 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.156. PATIENT NOTICE. (a) A facility shall provide |
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to a patient a notice that: |
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(1) states whether the facility participates in a |
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provider network, as described by Section 254.001, and lists each |
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provider network in which the facility participates; |
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(2) states whether the facility is an enrolled |
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provider under Medicaid; |
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(3) states: |
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(A) whether the facility accepts Medicare |
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assignment; |
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(B) whether the facility accepts the payment |
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terms of, or is a network provider under, any Medicare Advantage |
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plan; and |
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(C) each plan that provides this coverage for |
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facility patients; |
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(4) states whether the facility is a network provider |
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under the TRICARE Military Health System or is a non-network |
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provider accepting TRICARE patients; |
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(5) provides the address, phone number, and hours of |
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operation of the nearest facility that provides urgent care but |
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that is not an emergency care facility or hospital emergency |
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department; and |
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(6) lists the Internet website, phone number, and |
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e-mail address of the Texas Department of Insurance. |
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(b) The notice must be: |
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(1) provided on a single page not less than 8.5 inches |
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by 11 inches in size; and |
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(2) printed using a font that is at least 14 points in |
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size. |
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(c) The facility shall provide the notice to a patient as |
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soon as possible after the patient enters the facility and before |
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the patient receives a medical or health care service at the |
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facility. The facility shall retain a copy of the notice, signed by |
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the patient, in the patient's medical records. A patient who is |
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incapacitated is not required to sign the notice. The facility |
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shall provide the notice to a person who accompanies the |
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incapacitated patient to the facility, if any. |
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(d) A facility shall publish the notice on the facility's |
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Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. A freestanding medical care emergency facility |
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is not required to comply with Section 254.156, Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act, before January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |