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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the feasibility of using the statewide system |
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of health care data collection to create a public database of |
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charges billed by health care providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 108, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 108.0137 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 108.0137. STUDY REGARDING FEASIBILITY OF PUBLIC |
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DATABASE OF CHARGES. (a) In this section, "nonprofit health |
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corporation" means a health organization that is certified under |
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Section 162.001, Occupations Code, and that holds a certificate of |
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authority issued by the commissioner of insurance under Chapter |
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844, Insurance Code. |
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(b) The department shall conduct a study to determine the |
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feasibility of creating a public database of charges billed by |
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providers. |
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(c) The database described by Subsection (b) would allow |
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patients, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit health |
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corporations to determine charges billed according to each zip code |
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in the state. |
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(d) In conducting the study required by this section, the |
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department shall consult with the Department of Information |
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Resources. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2018, the department shall |
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report the results of the study required by this section to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the appropriate standing committees of the |
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senate and the house of representatives. |
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(f) This section expires January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |