Bill Text: TX HB3551 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the authorization of health care providers charging a fee for the production of records associated with applications for certain assistance benefits programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-22 - Left pending in committee [HB3551 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB3551-Introduced.html
84R12010 JSL-D | ||
By: White of Tyler | H.B. No. 3551 |
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relating to the authorization of health care providers charging a | ||
fee for the production of records associated with applications for | ||
certain assistance benefits programs. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 531.0331 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 531.0331. FEES FOR PRODUCTION OF RECORDS FOR | ||
ASSISTANCE BENEFITS APPLICATIONS. (a) This section applies to the | ||
following assistance programs: | ||
(1) the financial assistance program under Chapter 31, | ||
Human Resources Code; | ||
(2) the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, | ||
Human Resources Code; | ||
(3) the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program | ||
under 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 et seq.; | ||
(4) the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) | ||
program under 42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.; | ||
(5) the federal Medicare program; and | ||
(6) federal benefits or compensation available to | ||
veterans through a program administered by the United States | ||
Department of Veterans Affairs. | ||
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall allow, to the | ||
extent allowed under federal law and notwithstanding any other law, | ||
a health care provider to impose a reasonable fee for labor and | ||
production costs of producing records required to support a | ||
person's application for benefits under an assistance program to | ||
which this section applies. | ||
(c) Rules adopted under this section may not allow a health | ||
care provider to impose a fee under this section before the | ||
applicant is determined eligible for benefits under an assistance | ||
program to which this section applies and the applicant begins | ||
receiving benefits under that program. If the applicant is not | ||
eligible for the benefits, the health care provider may not impose a | ||
fee. | ||
(d) If the applicant for benefits under an assistance | ||
program to which this section applies has appointed a | ||
representative for the purpose of the application for benefits, the | ||
rules adopted under this section shall allow the health care | ||
provider to impose a fee under this section directly on that | ||
representative. | ||
SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
SECTION 3. 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, 2015. |