By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 2367
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a prohibition on bids by certain insurance and health
  benefit providers to administer or provide coverage under certain
  group benefit plans for governmental employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1551.2131 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1551.2131.  CERTAIN CARRIERS PROHIBITED FROM BIDDING.
  (a)  The commissioner shall provide notice to the board of trustees
  if the commissioner finds that a carrier has terminated a contract
  with a physician or provider for the provision of services solely
  because the physician or provider informed an enrollee in a health
  benefit plan offered or administered by the carrier of the full
  range of physicians and providers, including out-of-network
  providers, available to the enrollee after previously being
  sanctioned or penalized by the department for engaging in the
  conduct described by this subsection.
         (b)  If the board of trustees receives notice under
  Subsection (a) regarding a carrier, the carrier is prohibited from
  submitting a bid under Section 1551.212 or 1551.213 for two
  competitive bidding cycles.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1575.1061 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1575.1061.  CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS PROHIBITED
  FROM BIDDING. (a)  The commissioner shall provide notice to the
  trustee if the commissioner finds that a health care provider has
  terminated a contract with a physician or provider for the
  provision of services solely because the physician or provider
  informed an enrollee in a health benefit plan offered or
  administered by the health care provider of the full range of
  physicians and providers, including out-of-network providers,
  available to the enrollee after previously being sanctioned or
  penalized by the department for engaging in the conduct described
  by this subsection.
         (b)  If the trustee receives notice under Subsection (a)
  regarding a health care provider described by Section 1575.109, the
  health care provider is prohibited from submitting a bid under
  Section 1575.106 for two competitive bidding cycles.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1579.0541 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1579.0541.  CERTAIN HEALTH CARE AND BENEFIT PROVIDERS
  PROHIBITED FROM BIDDING. (a)  The commissioner shall provide
  notice to the trustee if the commissioner finds that a health care
  or benefit provider has terminated a contract with a physician or
  provider for the provision of services solely because the physician
  or provider informed an enrollee in a health coverage plan offered
  or administered by the health care or benefit provider of the full
  range of physicians and providers, including out-of-network
  providers, available to the enrollee after previously being
  sanctioned or penalized by the department for engaging in the
  conduct described by this subsection.
         (b)  If the trustee receives notice under Subsection (a)
  regarding a health care or benefit provider, the health care or
  benefit provider is prohibited from submitting a bid under Section
  1579.054 for two competitive bidding cycles.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.