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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health |
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benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a health benefit plan |
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that provides coverage for telemedicine medical services or |
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telehealth services may not deny payment to a preferred or |
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contracted health professional for a covered claim for a |
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telemedicine medical service or telehealth service based solely on |
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the telecommunications or information technology vendor used by the |
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health professional to deliver the service if the method of |
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communication that the vendor provides complies with Chapter 111, |
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Occupations Code, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan |
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that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after |
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January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |