86R7840 MEW-F
 
  By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1052
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibited practices by an insurer that issues a
  preferred provider benefit plan regarding communication of the
  preferred provider status of freestanding emergency medical care
  facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1301.0059 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1301.0059.  COMMUNICATION OF PREFERRED PROVIDER STATUS
  OF FREESTANDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES. It is an unfair
  method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice
  under Chapter 541 for an insurer to prevent, by contract or
  otherwise, a freestanding emergency medical care facility that is a
  preferred provider from communicating with the public that the
  facility is in the insurer's preferred provider network.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.