S.B. No. 425

	AN ACT
	relating to health care information provided by and notice of
	facility fees charged by certain freestanding emergency medical
	care facilities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, is amended
	by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER J.  NOTICE OF FACILITY FEES IN CERTAIN FREESTANDING
	EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES
	Sec. 241.251.  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(8).
	Sec. 241.252.  NOTICE OF FEES. (a)  In this section,
	"provider network" has the meaning assigned by Section 1456.001,
	Insurance Code.
	(b)  A facility described by Section 241.251 shall post
	notice that states:
	(1)  that the facility is a freestanding emergency
	medical care facility;
	(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.
	(c)  The notice required by this section must be posted
	prominently and conspicuously:
	(1)  at the primary entrance to the facility;
	(2)  in each patient treatment room;
	(3)  at each location within the facility at which a
	person pays for health care services; and
	(4)  on the facility's Internet website.
	(d)  The notice required by Subsections (c)(1), (2), and (3)
	must be in legible print on a sign with dimensions of at least 8.5
	inches by 11 inches.
	SECTION 2.  Section 254.001, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows:
	(6)  "Provider network" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 1456.001, Insurance Code.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Health and Safety
	Code, is amended by adding Section 254.155 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.155.  NOTICE OF FEES. (a)  A facility shall post
	notice that states:
	(1)  that the facility is a freestanding emergency
	medical care facility;
	(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.
	(b)  The notice required by this section must be posted
	prominently and conspicuously:
	(1)  at the primary entrance to the facility;
	(2)  in each patient treatment room;
	(3)  at each location within the facility at which a
	person pays for health care services; and
	(4)  on the facility's Internet website.
	(c)  The notice required by Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (3)
	must be in legible print on a sign with dimensions of at least 8.5
	inches by 11 inches.
	SECTION 4.  Section 324.001(7), Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(7)  "Facility" means:
	(A)  an ambulatory surgical center licensed under
	Chapter 243;
	(B)  a birthing center licensed under Chapter 244;
	[or]
	(C)  a hospital licensed under Chapter 241; or
	(D)  a freestanding emergency medical care
	facility, as defined in Section 254.001, including a freestanding
	emergency medical care facility that is exempt from the licensing
	requirements of Chapter 254 under Section 254.052(8).
	SECTION 5.  Section 241.183, Health and Safety Code, as
	added by Chapter 917 (H.B. 1376), Acts of the 83rd Legislature,
	Regular Session, 2013, and as amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th
	Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is repealed.
	SECTION 6.  (a)  Notwithstanding Subchapter J, Chapter 241,
	Health and Safety Code, and Section 254.155, Health and Safety
	Code, as added by this Act, a freestanding emergency medical care
	facility is not required to comply with those provisions until
	January 1, 2016.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 324, Health and Safety Code, as
	amended by this Act, a freestanding emergency medical care facility
	is not required to comply with Chapter 324, Health and Safety Code,
	until January 1, 2016.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 425 passed the Senate on
	April 16, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 18, 2015, by the
	following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 425 passed the House, with
	amendment, on May 12, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 138,
	Nays 5, two present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor