| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to standards for independent review organizations. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 4202.002, Insurance Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) In addition to the standards described by Subsection |
|
|
(b), the commissioner shall adopt standards and rules that: |
|
|
(1) prohibit: |
|
|
(A) more than one independent review |
|
|
organization from operating out of the same office or other |
|
|
facility; |
|
|
(B) an individual or entity from owning more than |
|
|
one independent review organization; |
|
|
(C) an individual from owning stock in or serving |
|
|
on the board of more than one independent review organization; |
|
|
(D) an individual who has served on the board of |
|
|
an independent review organization whose certification was revoked |
|
|
for cause from serving on the board of another independent review |
|
|
organization before the fifth anniversary of the date on which the |
|
|
revocation occurred; |
|
|
(E) an attorney who is, or has in the past served |
|
|
as, the registered agent for an independent review organization |
|
|
from representing the independent review organization in legal |
|
|
proceedings; and |
|
|
(F) an independent review organization from |
|
|
disclosing confidential patient information, except to a provider |
|
|
who is under contract to perform the review; and |
|
|
(2) require: |
|
|
(A) an independent review organization to be |
|
|
based and certified in this state and to locate the organization's |
|
|
primary offices in this state; |
|
|
(B) an independent review organization to |
|
|
voluntarily surrender the organization's certification while the |
|
|
organization is under investigation or as part of an agreed order; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(C) an independent review organization to apply |
|
|
for and receive a new certification after the organization is sold |
|
|
to a new owner. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 4519 was passed by the House on May |
|
|
15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 4519 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |