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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice of health benefit plan provider network status |
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provided by certain freestanding emergency medical care |
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facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 241.252(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A facility described by Section 241.251 shall post |
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notice that: |
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(1) states: |
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(A) [(1) that] the facility is a freestanding |
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emergency medical care facility; |
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(B) [(2) that] the facility charges rates |
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comparable to a hospital emergency room and may charge a facility |
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fee; |
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(C) [(3) that] a facility or a physician |
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providing medical care at the facility may not be a participating |
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provider in the patient's health benefit plan provider network; and |
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(D) [(4) that] a physician providing medical |
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care at the facility may bill separately from the facility for the |
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medical care provided to a patient; and |
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(2) either: |
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(A) lists the health benefit plans in which the |
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facility is a participating provider in the health benefit plan's |
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provider network; or |
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(B) states the facility is not a participating |
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provider in any health benefit plan provider network. |
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SECTION 2. Section 254.155(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A facility shall post notice that: |
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(1) states: |
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(A) [(1) that] the facility is a freestanding |
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|
emergency medical care facility; |
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|
(B) [(2) that] the facility charges rates |
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|
comparable to a hospital emergency room and may charge a facility |
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|
fee; |
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(C) [(3) that] a facility or a physician |
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|
providing medical care at the facility may not be a participating |
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|
provider in the patient's health benefit plan provider network; and |
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|
(D) [(4) that] a physician providing medical |
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|
care at the facility may bill separately from the facility for the |
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|
medical care provided to a patient; and |
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(2) either: |
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|
(A) lists the health benefit plans in which the |
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|
facility is a participating provider in the health benefit plan's |
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|
provider network; or |
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|
(B) states the facility is not a participating |
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provider in any health benefit plan provider network. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |