88R14344 KBB-D
By: Talarico H.B. No. 4234
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing an account to create a program to pay off
certain outstanding debts attributed to medical expenses; making an
appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.1101 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.1101. MEDICAL DEBTS REPAYMENT ACCOUNT. (a) The
comptroller shall establish an account to create a program to pay
off for certain individuals who reside in this state outstanding
debts attributed to medical expenses.
(b) An individual is eligible to have outstanding medical
debts paid off only if the individual is a resident of this state
and has:
(1) a household income of 400 percent of the federal
poverty level or less; or
(2) debts attributed to medical expenses in a total
amount that exceeds five percent of the individual's annual income.
(c) In implementing the program, the comptroller shall work
directly with hospitals, debt collection agencies, and others to
purchase an individual's medical debts at a reduced price.
(d) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to
establish the account and to create the program to pay off
outstanding debts attributed to medical expenses.
SECTION 2. The amount of $100 million is appropriated from
the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public accounts of
the State of Texas for the state fiscal biennium beginning
September 1, 2023, to provide the payments required by Section 1 of
this Act and to pay costs incurred by the comptroller in
facilitating the program established under that section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.