Bill Text: TX HB963 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the designation of certain optometrists, therapeutic optometrists, and ophthalmologists as preferred providers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-12 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB963 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB963-Comm_Sub.html
| 84R5806 PMO-F | ||
| By: Bonnen of Galveston, Sheets | H.B. No. 963 | |
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| relating to the designation of certain optometrists, therapeutic | ||
| optometrists, and ophthalmologists as preferred providers. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 1301.051(e), Insurance Code, is amended | ||
| to read as follows: | ||
| (e) An insurer may not withhold a designation to: | ||
| (1) a podiatrist described by Section 1301.0521; or | ||
| (2) an optometrist, therapeutic optometrist, or | ||
| ophthalmologist described by Section 1301.0522. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 1301.0522 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1301.0522. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN OPTOMETRISTS, | ||
| THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRISTS, AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AS PREFERRED | ||
| PROVIDERS. (a) Notwithstanding Section 1301.051, an insurer may | ||
| not withhold the designation of preferred provider to an | ||
| optometrist or therapeutic optometrist licensed by the Texas | ||
| Optometry Board or an ophthalmologist licensed by the Texas Medical | ||
| Board who: | ||
| (1) joins the professional practice of a contracted | ||
| preferred provider; | ||
| (2) applies to the insurer for designation as a | ||
| preferred provider; and | ||
| (3) complies with the terms and conditions of | ||
| eligibility to be a preferred provider. | ||
| (b) An optometrist, therapeutic optometrist, or | ||
| ophthalmologist designated as a preferred provider under this | ||
| section must comply with the terms of the preferred provider | ||
| contract used by the insurer or the insurer's network provider. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 1301.0522, Insurance Code, as added by | ||
| this Act, applies only to a contract between a preferred provider | ||
| and an insurer that is entered into or renewed on or after September | ||
| 1, 2015. A contract between a preferred provider and an insurer that | ||
| is entered into or renewed before September 1, 2015, is governed by | ||
| the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this | ||
| Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
