85R12745 LED-F
By: Paul H.B. No. 3099
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to health care information provided by certain
freestanding emergency medical care facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 241.252, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) A facility described by Section 241.251 shall post
notice that states:
(1) that the facility is a freestanding emergency
medical care facility and not an urgent care center;
(2) that the facility charges rates comparable to a
hospital emergency room [and may charge a facility fee];
(3) [that a facility or a physician providing medical
care at the facility may not be a participating provider in the
patient's health benefit plan provider network; and
[(4)] that a physician providing medical care at the
facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care
provided to a patient;
(4) any facility fee charged by the facility,
including the minimum and maximum facility fee amounts charged per
visit; and
(5) either:
(A) that the facility does not participate in a
provider network; or
(B) that the facility participates in a provider
network.
(b-1) The notice required under Subsection (b)(5)(B) must:
(1) identify the provider network;
(2) identify each physician providing medical care at
the facility who is excluded from the provider network; and
(3) for each physician described by Subdivision (2):
(A) state that the physician may bill separately
from the facility for the medical care provided to a patient; and
(B) provide the minimum and maximum amounts the
physician charges for each patient visit.
SECTION 2. Section 254.155, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
read as follows:
(a) A facility shall post notice that states:
(1) that the facility is a freestanding emergency
medical care facility and not an urgent care center;
(2) that the facility charges rates comparable to a
hospital emergency room [and may charge a facility fee];
(3) [that a facility or a physician providing medical
care at the facility may not be a participating provider in the
patient's health benefit plan provider network; and
[(4)] that a physician providing medical care at the
facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care
provided to a patient;
(4) any facility fee charged by the facility,
including the minimum and maximum facility fee amounts charged per
visit; and
(5) either:
(A) that the facility does not participate in a
provider network; or
(B) that the facility participates in a provider
network.
(a-1) The notice required under Subsection (a)(5)(B) must:
(1) identify the provider network;
(2) identify each physician providing medical care at
the facility who is excluded from the provider network; and
(3) for each physician described by Subdivision (2):
(A) state that the physician may bill separately
from the facility for the medical care provided to a patient; and
(B) provide the minimum and maximum amounts the
physician charges for each patient visit.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Sections 241.252 and 254.155,
Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, a freestanding
emergency medical care facility is not required to comply with
those provisions until January 1, 2018.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.