86R27021 BEE-F
By: Leach H.B. No. 2929
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to hospital liens.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 55, Property Code, is amended by adding
Section 55.0015 to read as follows:
Sec. 55.0015. ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL. For purposes of this
chapter, an injured individual is considered admitted to a hospital
if the individual is allowed access to any department of the
hospital for the provision of any treatment, care, or service to the
individual.
SECTION 2. Sections 55.004(b) and (d), Property Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A hospital lien described by Section 55.002(a) is for
the lesser of:
(1) the amount of the hospital's charges for services
provided to the injured individual during the first 100 days of the
injured individual's hospitalization; or
(2) 50 percent of all amounts recovered by the injured
individual through a cause of action, judgment, or settlement
described by Section 55.003(a).
(d) A hospital lien described by Section 55.002(a) does not
cover:
(1) charges for other services that exceed a
reasonable and regular rate for the services;
(2) charges by the physician related to any services
provided under Subsection (c) for which the physician has accepted
insurance benefits or payment under a private medical indemnity
plan or program, regardless of whether the benefits or payment
equals the full amount of the physician's charges for those
services;
(3) charges by the physician for services provided
under Subsection (c) if the injured individual has coverage under a
private medical indemnity plan or program from which the physician
is entitled to recover payment for the physician's services under
an assignment of benefits or similar rights; [or]
(4) charges by the physician related to any services
provided under Subsection (c) if the physician is a member of the
legislature; or
(5) charges for which recovery is barred under Section
146.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
SECTION 3. The addition by this Act of Section 55.0015,
Property Code, is intended to clarify rather than change the
existing law.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.