|   | 
         
         
            |   | 
         
         
            | 
                		
			 | 
            
               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
             | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            
               AN ACT
             | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            relating to affidavits concerning cost and necessity of services in  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            civil actions. | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
                   SECTION 1.  Section 18.001, Civil Practice and Remedies  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
                   (a-1)  If a claimant offers into evidence a medical bill or  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            other itemized statement of a medical or health care service and  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            charge totaling $50,000 or less, an affidavit described by  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            Subsection (b) is not necessary to support a finding of fact by a  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            judge or jury that the amount charged was reasonable or that the  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            service was necessary. | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
                   SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            to an action that commences on or after the effective date of this  | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
            Act. | 
         
         
            | 
                
			 | 
                   SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |