85R12745 LED-F     By: Paul H.B. No. 3099       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to health care information provided by certain   freestanding emergency medical care facilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 241.252, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to   read as follows:          (b)  A facility described by Section 241.251 shall post   notice that states:                (1)  that the facility is a freestanding emergency   medical care facility and not an urgent care center;                (2)  that the facility charges rates comparable to a   hospital emergency room [and may charge a facility fee];                (3)  [that a facility or a physician providing medical   care at the facility may not be a participating provider in the   patient's health benefit plan provider network; and                [(4)]  that a physician providing medical care at the   facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care   provided to a patient;                (4)  any facility fee charged by the facility,   including the minimum and maximum facility fee amounts charged per   visit; and                (5)  either:                      (A)  that the facility does not participate in a   provider network; or                      (B)  that the facility participates in a provider   network.          (b-1)  The notice required under Subsection (b)(5)(B) must:                (1)  identify the provider network;                (2)  identify each physician providing medical care at   the facility who is excluded from the provider network; and                (3)  for each physician described by Subdivision (2):                      (A)  state that the physician may bill separately   from the facility for the medical care provided to a patient; and                      (B)  provide the minimum and maximum amounts the   physician charges for each patient visit.          SECTION 2.  Section 254.155, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to   read as follows:          (a)  A facility shall post notice that states:                (1)  that the facility is a freestanding emergency   medical care facility and not an urgent care center;                (2)  that the facility charges rates comparable to a   hospital emergency room [and may charge a facility fee];                (3)  [that a facility or a physician providing medical   care at the facility may not be a participating provider in the   patient's health benefit plan provider network; and                [(4)]  that a physician providing medical care at the   facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care   provided to a patient;                (4)  any facility fee charged by the facility,   including the minimum and maximum facility fee amounts charged per   visit; and                (5)  either:                      (A)  that the facility does not participate in a   provider network; or                      (B)  that the facility participates in a provider   network.          (a-1)  The notice required under Subsection (a)(5)(B) must:                (1)  identify the provider network;                (2)  identify each physician providing medical care at   the facility who is excluded from the provider network; and                (3)  for each physician described by Subdivision (2):                      (A)  state that the physician may bill separately   from the facility for the medical care provided to a patient; and                      (B)  provide the minimum and maximum amounts the   physician charges for each patient visit.          SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Sections 241.252 and 254.155,   Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, a freestanding   emergency medical care facility is not required to comply with   those provisions until January 1, 2018.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.