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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an annual report on the costs to this state and |
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political subdivisions of providing health care services to foreign |
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patients. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 525, Government Code, as |
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effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 525.0304 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 525.0304. ANNUAL REPORT ON COSTS OF PROVIDING HEALTH |
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CARE SERVICES TO FOREIGN PATIENTS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Emergency care" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 1301.155, Insurance Code. |
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(2) "Political subdivision" includes a municipality, |
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county, and hospital district in this state. |
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(b) The commission shall quarterly collect information on |
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the costs incurred by this state and political subdivisions for |
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providing at public hospitals inpatient health care services and |
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emergency care to uninsured patients who are not citizens or lawful |
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permanent residents of the United States. |
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(c) A public hospital providing inpatient health care |
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services or emergency care to a patient described by Subsection (b) |
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shall inform the patient that: |
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(1) the hospital must provide to the commission the |
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information described by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) the provision of the information does not affect |
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or limit the hospital's duty to provide the patient care under |
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federal law. |
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(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the commission |
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shall submit to the governor and the legislature a written report |
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outlining the costs incurred by this state and political |
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subdivisions for providing inpatient health care services and |
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emergency care to patients described by Subsection (b), including |
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any recommendations regarding options available for this state to |
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seek reimbursement for those costs from the federal government. |
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(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules |
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necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall adopt any necessary rules as required by Section 525.0304, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall: |
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(1) begin collecting the information required by |
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Section 525.0304, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later |
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than November 1, 2025; and |
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(2) submit the first report required by Section |
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525.0304, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |