| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to advertising by certain facilities that provide |
|
|
emergency services; providing an administrative penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subchapter H to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER H. FREESTANDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES |
|
|
ASSOCIATED WITH LICENSED HOSPITALS |
|
|
Sec. 241.181. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only |
|
|
to a freestanding emergency medical care facility, as that term is |
|
|
defined by Section 254.001, that is exempt from the licensing |
|
|
requirements of Chapter 254 under Section 254.052(7) or (8). |
|
|
Sec. 241.182. ADVERTISING. A facility described by Section |
|
|
241.181 may not advertise or hold itself out as a medical office, |
|
|
facility, or provider other than an emergency room if the facility |
|
|
charges for its services the usual and customary rate charged for |
|
|
the same service by a hospital emergency room in the same region of |
|
|
the state or located in a region of the state with comparable rates |
|
|
for emergency health care services. |
|
|
Sec. 241.183. POSTED NOTICE. Subject to Section 241.006, |
|
|
the department shall adopt rules for a notice to be posted in a |
|
|
conspicuous place in the facility described by Section 241.181 that |
|
|
notifies prospective patients that the facility is an emergency |
|
|
room and charges rates comparable to a hospital emergency room. |
|
|
Sec. 241.184. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. The commissioner of |
|
|
health may assess an administrative penalty under Section 241.059 |
|
|
against a hospital that violates this subchapter. |
|
|
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall adopt |
|
|
rules relating to the notice required under Section 241.183, Health |
|
|
and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1376 was passed by the House on May 2, |
|
|
2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1376 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
22, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |