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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to disclosure requirements regarding a health care |
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consultant's relationship with an insurance company or health care |
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facility; providing a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 176A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 176A. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS BY |
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HEALTH CARE CONSULTANTS TO PUBLIC ENTITIES |
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Sec. 176A.0001. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED. A person who provides |
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consultation services to a public entity of this state regarding |
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health care contracts and related matters shall disclose to the |
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public entity: |
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(1) whether the person has an agreement with an |
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insurance company or health care facility to receive a commission, |
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bonus, profit share, or referral fee; and |
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(2) if applicable, the name of the insurance company |
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or health care facility the person has an agreement with. |
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Sec. 176A.0002. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates |
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Section 176A.0001 is subject to a civil penalty in an amount up to |
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$5,000. |
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(b) The attorney general may sue to collect the civil |
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penalty under this section. The attorney general may recover |
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reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining relief under this |
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section, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, |
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investigation costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |