89R9308 SCF-D
By: Olcott H.B. No. 2587
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual report on certain uncompensated hospital care
costs.
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 UNCOMPENSATED HOSPITAL CARE
PROVIDED TO PERSONS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT. (a) In this section:
(1) "Person not lawfully present" means a person who
is not:
(A) a citizen or national of the United States;
or
(B) an alien who is lawfully admitted for
permanent residence in the United States under the federal
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) or
authorized to be employed by that Act or the United States attorney
general.
(2) "Uncompensated hospital care" means health care
services provided by a hospital to a patient for which the hospital
does not receive payment in full for those services.
(b) Not later than November 1 of each year, the commission
shall prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a
written report for the preceding state fiscal year on:
(1) the cost of uncompensated hospital care incurred
by hospitals in this state to provide health care services to
patients who were persons not lawfully present at the time health
care services were provided to those patients; and
(2) the impact that incurring the costs described by
Subdivision (1) had on those hospitals.
(c) For purposes of preparing the report required by
Subsection (b), the executive commissioner by rule shall require
each hospital in this state that provides uncompensated hospital
care to:
(1) include on the hospital's patient intake form:
(A) a question regarding the patient's
citizenship or immigration status; and
(B) a statement that the patient's response to
that question will not affect any health care service provided to
the patient; and
(2) quarterly submit to the commission in the manner
and format prescribed by the commission a written report on:
(A) the number of patients who received health
care services from the hospital during the preceding quarter who
were persons not lawfully present at the time the hospital provided
health care services to the patients;
(B) the total cost of uncompensated hospital care
incurred by the hospital as a result of providing health care
services to the patients who were persons not lawfully present at
the time the hospital provided health care services to the
patients; and
(C) the impact on the hospital of providing
uncompensated hospital care to patients who were persons not
lawfully present at the time the hospital provided health care
services to the patients.
(d) A patient's response to the question described by
Subsection (c)(1)(A) may not affect the health care services
provided to the patient.
(e) The commission shall ensure the reports required under
this section do not include any personal identifying information.
SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section
525.0304, Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 525.0304, Government Code, as
added by this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission is not
required to submit the initial report required by that section
until November 1, 2027.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.