Bill Text: TX HB261 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in connection with certain pediatric dental services.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-02-27 - Referred to Insurance [HB261 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB261-Introduced.html
| 89R1426 CJD-F | ||
| By: Gervin-Hawkins | H.B. No. 261 | |
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| relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia in | ||
| connection with certain pediatric dental services. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subchapter G to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER G. PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY | ||
| Sec. 1367.301. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This | ||
| subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides | ||
| benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a | ||
| health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, | ||
| group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance | ||
| agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or | ||
| group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is | ||
| offered by: | ||
| (1) an insurance company; | ||
| (2) a group hospital service corporation operating | ||
| under Chapter 842; | ||
| (3) a health maintenance organization operating under | ||
| Chapter 843; | ||
| (4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that | ||
| holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; | ||
| (5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds | ||
| a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; | ||
| (6) a stipulated premium insurance company operating | ||
| under Chapter 884; | ||
| (7) a fraternal benefit society operating under | ||
| Chapter 885; | ||
| (8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or | ||
| (9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. | ||
| (b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies | ||
| to: | ||
| (1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to | ||
| Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group | ||
| cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter; | ||
| (2) a standard health benefit plan issued under | ||
| Chapter 1507; | ||
| (3) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; | ||
| (4) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; | ||
| (5) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; | ||
| (6) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter | ||
| 1601; | ||
| (7) a regional or local health care program operated | ||
| under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code; and | ||
| (8) a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a | ||
| professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code. | ||
| Sec. 1367.302. COVERAGE FOR GENERAL ANESTHESIA. Subject to | ||
| Section 1360.005, a health benefit plan that provides coverage for | ||
| general anesthesia may not exclude from coverage medically | ||
| necessary general anesthesia services in connection with dental | ||
| services provided to a covered individual if: | ||
| (1) the individual is: | ||
| (A) younger than 13 years of age; and | ||
| (B) unable to undergo the dental service without | ||
| general anesthesia due to a documented physical, mental, or medical | ||
| reason; and | ||
| (2) the anesthesia is performed by a qualified | ||
| provider of anesthesia services. | ||
| Sec. 1367.303. COVERAGE NOT REQUIRED. This subchapter does | ||
| not require a health benefit plan to provide coverage for dental | ||
| care or procedures. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, as | ||
| added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan that is | ||
| delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, | ||
| 2026. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
