H.B. No. 2963
AN ACT
relating to the authority of a county, hospital district, or public
hospital to provide health care services to an indigent patient.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.0045(b), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A county, hospital district, or public hospital that
receives information obtained under Subsection (a) shall use the
information to determine whether the patient to whom services were
provided is an eligible resident of the service area of the county,
hospital district, or public hospital and, if so, shall pay the
claim made by the provider to the extent that the county, hospital
district, or public hospital is liable under Section 61.033 or
61.060 [in accordance with this chapter].
SECTION 2. Section 61.029, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A county may provide or arrange to provide health care
services for eligible county residents through the purchase of
health coverage or other health benefits, including benefits
described by Chapter 75.
SECTION 3. Section 61.056, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A public hospital or hospital district may provide or
arrange to provide health care services for eligible residents
through the purchase of health coverage or other health benefits,
including benefits described by Chapter 75. For purposes of this
subsection, the board of directors or managers of the hospital or
district have the powers and duties provided to the commissioners
court of a county under Chapter 75.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2963 was passed by the House on April
22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2963 on May 23, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2963 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor