This report is an update to BNN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" examination. Our team will continue to follow the expenses throughout Texas' legislative session.
AUSTIN (BNN)-- On Wednesday, the Texas House voted out an amended variation of Senate Bill 490, which promotes medical transparency to expenses patients get after being dealt with.
State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round, describing the itemized medical expense legislation on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.( Courtesy: Melva Gomez, Rep. Harris' Chief of Staff).
The legislation-- filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola-- now heads back to the Senate for last evaluation, which could be the last step prior to being sent to the governor.
The legislation needs hospitals requesting payment from a client to send a composed itemized invoice after providing a service and prior to sending to collections.
The majority of your home voted in favor of the legislation after including a change that omits physicians or federally-qualified health care centers from the requirement.
" Our concern was just making sure that, you know, these medical mistakes can be inspected. And again, you understand, it's a lot easier to either go to your physician's workplace, speak to the nurse that assisted you or talk with your doctor straight," State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, stated Wednesday at the State Capitol.
Medical debt suits
Harris authored an identical House companion, House Bill 1973, but lawmakers chose the Senate variation since it had actually advanced even more in the legal procedure.
" This is a concern for my constituents and for me," Harris stated.
BNN Investigation: Medical Debt Lawsuits.
The legislation follows a BNN examination into a Williamson County healthcare facility that submitted numerous claims versus patients for overdue medical costs. BNN has shared stories from those impacted who said they tried to get itemized invoices but could not-- then got sued for medical financial obligation.
Harris is familiar with those stories and has heard from Texans fighting lawsuits in court.
State Rep. Chris Turner, D-
Arlington, was the only lawmaker who had questions about the bill, like when healthcare centers would be required to provide the itemized expense.
" Before someone is sent out to collections, they have to receive that itemized costs. So that can be after insurance coverage has actually already kicked in-- the facility and insurance have actually figured whatever out-- and then it's the last payment that goes to the client," Harris explained. "Before they send the patient to collections-- to collect on that costs, that's when they would need to provide the itemized [billing], so whenever up until they send out the individual to collections.".
READ: Texas Senate passes bill pushing for medical billing openness.
The Texas Senate passed the expense in late April without the modification.
Opposition and pushback
The House costs dealt with pushback from some lawmakers and a
Houston health system throughout the early phases. Issues were raised about the costs to carry out the costs.
READ: Medical billing transparency legislation pushes forward.
A financial note for the expense stated there is no substantial costs to the state anticipated and-- based on analysis-- the execution of the bill might be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Last session, a similar Senate bill-- likewise submitted by Hughes-- stopped working to advance to this stage
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