By: Hickland H.B. No. 1310
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual report on the costs to this state and
political subdivisions of providing health care services to foreign
patients.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 525, Government Code, as
effective April 1, 2025, is amended by adding Section 525.0304 to
read as follows:
Sec. 525.0304. ANNUAL REPORT ON COSTS OF PROVIDING HEALTH
CARE SERVICES TO FOREIGN PATIENTS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Emergency care" has the meaning assigned by
Section 1301.155, Insurance Code.
(2) "Political subdivision" includes a municipality,
county, and hospital district in this state.
(b) The commission shall quarterly collect information on
the costs incurred by this state and political subdivisions for
providing at public hospitals inpatient health care services and
emergency care to uninsured patients who are not citizens or lawful
permanent residents of the United States.
(c) A public hospital providing inpatient health care
services or emergency care to a patient described by Subsection (b)
shall inform the patient that:
(1) the hospital must provide to the commission the
information described by Subsection (b); and
(2) the provision of the information does not affect
or limit the hospital's duty to provide the patient care under
federal law.
(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the commission
shall submit to the governor and the legislature a written report
outlining the costs incurred by this state and political
subdivisions for providing inpatient health care services and
emergency care to patients described by Subsection (b), including
any recommendations regarding options available for this state to
seek reimbursement for those costs from the federal government.
(e) The executive commissioner shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
shall adopt any necessary rules as required by Section 525.0304,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall:
(1) begin collecting the information required by
Section 525.0304, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later
than November 1, 2025; and
(2) submit the first report required by Section
525.0304, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
January 1, 2027.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.