Texas 2013 83rd Regular

Texas House Bill HB658 Comm Sub / Bill

                    83R12081 TJS-F
 By: Sheets H.B. No. 658
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 658:
 By:  Farney C.S.H.B. No. 658


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to postjudgment interest on damages subject to Medicare
 subrogation.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
 amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows:
 Sec. 41.014.  INTEREST ON DAMAGES SUBJECT TO MEDICARE
 SUBROGATION. (a)  Subject to this section, postjudgment interest
 does not accrue on the unpaid balance of an award of damages to a
 plaintiff attributable to any portion of the award to which the
 United States has a subrogation right under 42 U.S.C. Section
 1395y(b)(2)(B) before the defendant receives a recovery demand
 letter issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or a
 designated contractor under 42 C.F.R. Section 411.22.
 (b)  Postjudgment interest under this section does not
 accrue if the defendant pays the unpaid balance before the 31st day
 after the date the defendant receives the recovery demand letter.
 (c)  If the defendant appeals the award of damages, this
 section does not apply.
 (d)  This section does not prevent the accrual of
 postjudgment interest on any portion of an award to which the United
 States does not have a subrogation right under 42 U.S.C. Section
 1395y(b)(2)(B).
 SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 to an award of damages made on or after the effective date of this
 Act. An award of damages made before the effective date of this Act
 is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and
 that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.