Bill Text: TX HB1675 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 1675 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the methods of payment to health care providers by certain health benefit plan issuers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-04 - Left pending in committee [HB1675 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1675-Introduced.html

	85R6793 PMO-F

	By: Flynn	H.B. No. 1675



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the methods of payment to health care providers by
	certain health benefit plan issuers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 8, Insurance Code, is amended
	by adding Chapter 1468 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 1468. METHODS OF PAYMENT OF PHYSICIANS AND HEALTH CARE
	PROVIDERS
	Sec. 1468.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1) "Health benefit plan issuer" means an entity
	authorized under this code or another insurance law of this state
	that provides health insurance or health benefits in this state,
	including:
	(A) an insurance company;
	(B) a group hospital service corporation
	operating under Chapter 842;
	(C) a health maintenance organization operating
	under Chapter 843; and
	(D) a stipulated premium company operating under
	Chapter 884.
	(2) "Health care provider" means a practitioner,
	institutional provider, or other person or organization that
	furnishes health care services and that is licensed or otherwise
	authorized to practice in this state. The term includes a
	pharmacist, pharmacy, hospital, nursing home, or other medical or
	health-related service facility that provides care for the sick or
	injured or other care. The term does not include a physician.
	(3) "Physician" means an individual licensed to
	practice medicine in this state.
	Sec. 1468.002. METHODS OF PAYMENT. (a) Subject to
	Subsection (b), a health benefit plan issuer or a person with whom a
	health benefit plan issuer contracts to process or pay physician or
	health care provider claims may pay a physician or health care
	provider by any lawful method of payment, including:
	(1) an automated clearinghouse payment;
	(2) a wire transfer;
	(3) electronic funds transfer by card;
	(4) payment through a private card network; or
	(5) another form of electronic funds transfer.
	(b) Unless a contract between the health benefit plan issuer
	and the physician or health care provider specifies the method of
	payment, a physician or health care provider may refuse to accept a
	method of payment allowed under Subsection (a).
	(c) A physician or health care provider that refuses to
	accept a method of payment allowed under Subsection (a) shall give
	written notice of the refusal to the health benefit plan issuer or
	the person with whom the health benefit plan issuer contracts to
	process or pay physician or health care provider claims and specify
	an acceptable and otherwise lawful method of payment.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.