85R21927 LED-D
 
  By: Oliverson, Smithee, Cook, Turner, et al. H.B. No. 3276
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3276:
 
  By:  Phillips C.S.H.B. No. 3276
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notice of health benefit plan provider network status
  provided by certain freestanding emergency medical care
  facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 241.252, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A facility described by Section 241.251 shall post
  notice that:
               (1)  states:
                     (A) [(1)  that] the facility is a freestanding
  emergency medical care facility;
                     (B) [(2)  that] the facility charges rates
  comparable to a hospital emergency room and may charge a facility
  fee;
                     (C) [(3)  that] a facility or a physician
  providing medical care at the facility may not be a participating
  provider in the patient's health benefit plan provider network; and
                     (D) [(4)  that] a physician providing medical
  care at the facility may bill separately from the facility for the
  medical care provided to a patient; and
               (2)  either:
                     (A)  lists the health benefit plans in which the
  facility is a participating provider in the health benefit plan's
  provider network; or
                     (B)  states the facility is not a participating
  provider in any health benefit plan provider network.
         (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a facility that is a
  participating provider in one or more health benefit plan provider
  networks complies with Subsection (b)(2) if the facility:
               (1)  provides notice on the facility's Internet website
  listing the health benefit plans in which the facility is a
  participating provider in the health benefit plan's provider
  network; and 
               (2)  provides to a patient written confirmation of
  whether the facility is a participating provider in the patient's
  health benefit plan's provider network.
         SECTION 2.  Section 254.155, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A facility shall post notice that:
               (1)  states:
                     (A) [(1)  that] the facility is a freestanding
  emergency medical care facility;
                     (B) [(2)  that] the facility charges rates
  comparable to a hospital emergency room and may charge a facility
  fee;
                     (C) [(3)  that] a facility or a physician
  providing medical care at the facility may not be a participating
  provider in the patient's health benefit plan provider network; and
                     (D) [(4)  that] a physician providing medical
  care at the facility may bill separately from the facility for the
  medical care provided to a patient; and
               (2)  either:
                     (A)  lists the health benefit plans in which the
  facility is a participating provider in the health benefit plan's
  provider network; or
                     (B)  states the facility is not a participating
  provider in any health benefit plan provider network.
         (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a facility that is a
  participating provider in one or more health benefit plan provider
  networks complies with Subsection (a)(2) if the facility:
               (1)  provides notice on the facility's Internet website
  listing the health benefit plans in which the facility is a
  participating provider in the health benefit plan's provider
  network; and 
               (2)  provides to a patient written confirmation of
  whether the facility is a participating provider in the patient's
  health benefit plan's provider network.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.