bill to keep ambulance surprise bill ban past 2027

The text as introduced · 680 words

90R3956 SCL-D

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 54

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the expiration of consumer protections against certain

medical and health care billing by emergency medical services

providers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) Section 773.061, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:

(a-2) Subsection (a-1) and this subsection expire on the

first day after the date the office of the attorney general

publishes in the Texas Register a finding that a federal law has

taken effect that prohibits out-of-network providers that are

emergency medical services providers, as that term is defined by

Section 1275.054, Insurance Code, from engaging in balance billing,

as defined by Section 1456.001, Insurance Code.

(b) The expiration of Section 773.061(a-1), Health and

Safety Code, as provided by Section 773.061(a-2), Health and Safety

Code, as added by this Act, does not affect the authority of the

Department of State Health Services to revoke, suspend, or refuse

to renew a license or certificate of a provider based on an act or

omission that occurs before that expiration.

SECTION 2. Section 38.006(b), Insurance Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers, as that term is defined by Section 1275.054, from

engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section 1456.001

[ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 3. Section 1271.159(g), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(g) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

non-network emergency medical services providers from engaging in

balance billing, as defined by Section 1456.001 [ September 1,

2027 ].

SECTION 4. Section 1275.054(f), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(f) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers from engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section

1456.001 [ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 5. Section 1301.166(g), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(g) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers from engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section

1456.001 [ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 6. Section 1551.231(f), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(f) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers from engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section

1456.001 [ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 7. Section 1575.174(f), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(f) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers from engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section

1456.001 [ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 8. Section 1579.112(f), Insurance Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(f) This section expires on the first day after the date the

office of the attorney general publishes in the Texas Register a

finding that a federal law has taken effect that prohibits

out-of-network providers that are emergency medical services

providers from engaging in balance billing, as defined by Section

1456.001 [ September 1, 2027 ].

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.