| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the timely billing of health care services related to a |
|
|
personal injury claim. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 146.002, Civil Practice and Remedies |
|
|
Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding |
|
|
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c) and subject |
|
|
to Subsection (c-1), a health care service provider shall bill a |
|
|
patient or other responsible person for services provided to the |
|
|
patient not later than the first day of the 11th month after the |
|
|
date the services are provided. |
|
|
(c-1) If a health care service provider provides services to |
|
|
a patient that are related to a personal injury claim for which the |
|
|
patient is represented by an attorney and unless otherwise directed |
|
|
by the patient or other responsible person, the provider may |
|
|
satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by submitting the bill |
|
|
to the patient's attorney not later than the first day of the 11th |
|
|
month after the date the services are provided. |
|
|
(d) For purposes of this section, the date of billing is the |
|
|
date on which the health care service provider's bill is: |
|
|
(1) mailed to the patient, [or] responsible person, or |
|
|
attorney representing the patient, as applicable, postage prepaid, |
|
|
at the address of the patient, [or] responsible person, or attorney |
|
|
representing the patient as shown on the health care service |
|
|
provider's records; or |
|
|
(2) mailed or otherwise submitted to the issuer of the |
|
|
health benefit plan or third party payor as required by the health |
|
|
benefit plan or third party payor. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a health care service provided on or after the effective date of |
|
|
this Act. A health care service provided before the effective date |
|
|
of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the |
|
|
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for |
|
|
that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |