89R3205 SCL-D
 
  By: Leach H.B. No. 778
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to required health benefit plan coverage for gender
  transition adverse effects and reversals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle E, Title 8, Insurance Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 1373 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 1373. REQUIRED COVERAGE OF GENDER TRANSITION ADVERSE
  EFFECTS AND REVERSALS
         Sec. 1373.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: 
               (1)  "Gender transition" means a medical process by
  which an individual's anatomy, physiology, or mental state is
  treated or altered, including by the removal of otherwise healthy
  organs or tissue, the introduction of implants or performance of
  other plastic surgery, hormone treatment, or the use of drugs,
  counseling, or therapy, for the purpose of furthering or assisting
  the individual's identification as a member of the opposite
  biological sex or group or demographic category that does not
  correspond to the individual's biological sex.
               (2)  "Gender transition procedure or treatment" means a
  medical procedure or treatment performed or provided for the
  purpose of assisting an individual with a gender transition.
         Sec. 1373.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  (a)  This
  chapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides
  benefits for medical or surgical expenses or pharmacy benefits
  incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness,
  including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance
  policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract,
  or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage
  document that is issued by:
               (1)  an insurance company;
               (2)  a group hospital service corporation operating
  under Chapter 842;
               (3)  a health maintenance organization operating under
  Chapter 843;
               (4)  an approved nonprofit health corporation that
  holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;
               (5)  a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
  a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;
               (6)  a stipulated premium company operating under
  Chapter 884;
               (7)  a fraternal benefit society operating under
  Chapter 885;
               (8)  a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or
               (9)  an exchange operating under Chapter 942.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter applies to:
               (1)  a small employer health benefit plan subject to
  Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group
  cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter;
               (2)  a standard health benefit plan issued under
  Chapter 1507;
               (3)  a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
               (4)  a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
               (5)  a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
               (6)  a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter
  1601;
               (7)  nonprofit agricultural organization health
  benefits offered by a nonprofit agricultural organization under
  Chapter 1682;
               (8)  alternative health benefit coverage offered by a
  subsidiary of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company under Subchapter
  M, Chapter 2054;
               (9)  group health coverage made available by a school
  district in accordance with Section 22.004, Education Code;
               (10)  the state Medicaid program, including the
  Medicaid managed care program operated under Chapter 540,
  Government Code;
               (11)  the child health plan program under Chapter 62,
  Health and Safety Code;
               (12)  a regional or local health care program operated
  under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code;
               (13)  a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a
  professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code;
               (14)  county employee group health benefits provided
  under Chapter 157, Local Government Code; and
               (15)  health and accident coverage provided by a risk
  pool created under Chapter 172, Local Government Code.
         (c)  This chapter applies to coverage under a group health
  benefit plan provided to a resident of this state regardless of
  whether the group policy, agreement, or contract is delivered,
  issued for delivery, or renewed in this state.
         (d)  This chapter does not apply to a self-funded health
  benefit plan as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security
  Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.).
         Sec. 1373.003.  REQUIRED COVERAGE. (a)  A health benefit
  plan that provides coverage for an enrollee's gender transition
  procedure or treatment shall provide coverage for:
               (1)  all possible adverse consequences related to the
  enrollee's gender transition procedure or treatment, including any
  short- or long-term side effects of the procedure or treatment;
               (2)  any testing or screening necessary to monitor the
  mental and physical health of the enrollee on at least an annual
  basis; and
               (3)  any procedure or treatment necessary to reverse
  the enrollee's gender transition procedure or treatment.
         (b)  A health benefit plan that offers coverage for a gender
  transition procedure or treatment shall also provide the coverage
  described by Subsection (a) to any enrollee who has undergone a
  gender transition procedure or treatment regardless of whether the
  enrollee was enrolled in the plan at the time of the procedure or
  treatment.
         SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1373.003, Insurance Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered,
  issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.