Texas House Bill HB307

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

• Filed: 11/14/16

Caption

Relating to disclosure of certain health care costs and shared savings between certain health benefit plans and enrollees.

Impact

HB307 is anticipated to have a significant impact on the operation of health benefit plans and healthcare providers. By establishing clear requirements for cost disclosures, the bill seeks to mitigate the surprise billing phenomenon and empower consumers to be more proactive about their healthcare choices. The ability to compare costs and understand potential financial liabilities will likely aid in improving healthcare financial planning among enrollees. Additionally, it is expected to foster competition among service providers to deliver reasonable pricing, thereby potentially lowering overall healthcare costs.

Summary

House Bill 307 aims to enhance transparency in healthcare costs by requiring health benefit plans and healthcare providers to disclose prices and estimates for nonemergency services. The bill mandates that before a patient receives care, healthcare providers must provide a price disclosure or estimate unless the patient declines. This includes informing patients about facility fees and the reimbursement amounts that health plans will provide. This measure is designed to empower patients to make more informed healthcare decisions by providing critical financial information upfront.

Contention

While proponents of HB307 emphasize the importance of patient rights and financial transparency, opponents raise concerns about the burden of compliance on healthcare providers. Critics suggest that this legislation could inadvertently lead to increased administrative costs for providers who must adapt their billing and transparency practices. Furthermore, there are questions about whether the estimates provided can accurately reflect the final costs, as healthcare services often depend on unforeseen medical factors. The debate continues over whether such tariffs align with the broader goal of making healthcare more affordable.