87R968 SMT-D
 
  By: Johnson of Dallas H.B. No. 620
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to identification cards issued by health maintenance
  organizations and preferred provider organizations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 843.209, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 843.209.  IDENTIFICATION CARD. (a) An identification
  card or other similar document issued by a health maintenance
  organization to an enrollee must:
               (1)  indicate that the health maintenance organization
  is regulated under this code and subject to the provisions of
  Subchapter J; [and]
               (2)  display:
                     (A)  the first date on which the enrollee became
  enrolled; or
                     (B)  a toll-free number a physician or provider
  may use to obtain that date; and
               (3)  display the acronym "HMO" in the location of the
  health maintenance organization's choice.
         (b)  An identification card or other similar document that
  bears the acronym "HMO" as required by Subsection (a) indicates
  that health benefit coverage for health care services provided by a
  participating physician or provider does not ensure the enrollee
  has access to:
               (1)  health care services at a discounted rate if the
  services are provided by a physician or provider who is not included
  in the health maintenance organization delivery network; or
               (2)  other fee discounts available under the health
  maintenance organization delivery network.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1301.162, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1301.162.  IDENTIFICATION CARD. (a) An identification
  card or other similar document issued by an insurer regulated by
  this code and subject to this chapter to an individual insured must:
               (1)  display:
                     (A) [(1)]  the first date on which the individual
  became insured under the plan; or
                     (B) [(2)]  a toll-free number a physician or
  health care provider may use to obtain that date; and
               (2)  display the acronym "PPO" in the location of the
  insurer's choice.
         (b)  An identification card or other similar document that
  bears the acronym "PPO" as required by Subsection (a) indicates
  that health benefit coverage for medical care or health care
  services provided by a preferred provider does not ensure the
  insured has access to:
               (1)  medical care or health care services at a
  discounted rate if the services are provided by an out-of-network
  provider; or
               (2)  other fee discounts available under the provider
  network.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 843.209 and 1301.162, Insurance Code,
  as amended by this Act, apply only to an identification card or
  other similar document issued on or after January 1, 2022.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.