Bill Text: TX HB3178 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to an interim house study regarding retrospective denial by health benefit plans of health benefit claims for emergency care.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-01 - Left pending in committee [HB3178 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3178-Introduced.html
86R12562 PMO-D | ||
By: Bowers | H.B. No. 3178 |
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relating to an interim house study regarding retrospective denial | ||
by health benefit plans of health benefit claims for emergency | ||
care. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. HOUSE COMMITTEE. (a) A standing committee of | ||
the house of representatives shall study and report to the speaker | ||
and members of the house of representatives regarding the practice | ||
of retrospective denial by health benefit plans of health benefit | ||
claims for emergency care. | ||
(b) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of | ||
this Act, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint | ||
an appropriate committee from the standing committees of the house | ||
of representatives to conduct the study and prepare the report | ||
required by Subsection (a) of this section. | ||
SECTION 2. STUDY. The committee selected under Section 1 of | ||
this Act shall, with respect to the practice of retrospective | ||
denial by health benefit plans of health benefit claims for | ||
emergency care, study: | ||
(1) the formal and informal policies of health benefit | ||
plans under which claims for emergency care are denied after the | ||
care has been provided to a covered person; | ||
(2) the effect the retrospective denial practice has | ||
on whether residents of this state seek emergency care; | ||
(3) patient expectations about health benefits that | ||
may be available when seeking emergency care; | ||
(4) the conflict between the application of the | ||
retrospective denial practice and the prudent layperson standard | ||
adopted in this state with respect to emergency care; and | ||
(5) the effect the retrospective denial practice has | ||
on medical debt incurred by residents of this state. | ||
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2021, the | ||
committee selected under Section 1 of this Act shall report the | ||
committee's findings and recommendations to the speaker and members | ||
of the house of representatives. The committee shall include in the | ||
recommendations specific statutory changes, including any changes | ||
necessary to Title 8, Insurance Code, that may appear necessary or | ||
advisable from the committee's study conducted under Section 2 of | ||
this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2021. | ||
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2019. |