84R7544 SCL-D
By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 3565
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibition of notification forms from health benefit
plan issuers intended to intimidate patients; adding a provision
subject to a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 843.363, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) A health maintenance organization may not, as a
condition of payment with a physician, dentist, or provider, or in
any other manner, require a physician, dentist, or provider to
provide a notification form stating that the physician, dentist, or
provider is not a participating provider to a current, prospective,
or former patient, or a person designated by the patient, if the
form contains additional information that is intended, or is
otherwise required to be presented in a manner that is intended, to
intimidate the patient.
SECTION 2. Section 1301.067, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) An insurer may not, as a condition of payment with a
physician or health care provider or in any other manner, require a
physician or health care provider to provide a notification form
stating that the physician or health care provider is not a
preferred provider to a current, prospective, or former patient, or
a person designated by the patient, if the form contains additional
information that is intended, or is otherwise required to be
presented in a manner that is intended, to intimidate the patient.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.