SB331 - Relating to the disclosure of health care cost information by certain health care facilities; imposing an administrative penalty.

      S.B. No. 331         AN ACT   relating to the disclosure of health care cost information by   certain health care facilities; imposing an administrative   penalty.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 327.001(7), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (7)  "Facility" means :                       (A)   a hospital , including:                             (i)  a general hospital;                             (ii)  a special hospital;                             (iii)  a mental hospital;                             (iv)     a hospital that operates a crisis   stabilization unit;                             (v)  a limited services rural hospital; or                             (vi)     a hospital operating under a   certificate of public advantage under Chapter 314 or 314A;                       (B)  an abortion facility;                       (C)  an ambulatory surgical center;                       (D)  a birthing center;                       (E)  a chemical dependency treatment facility;                       (F)  an end stage renal disease facility;                       (G)     a freestanding emergency medical care   facility;                       (H)  a narcotic drug treatment program; or                       (I)  a special care facility  [ licensed under   Chapter 241 ].          SECTION 2.  Chapter 327, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by adding Section 327.0015 to read as follows:           Sec.   327.0015.     APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to   a facility with a total gross revenue of $10 million or more.          SECTION 3.  Sections 327.008(a) and (c), Health and Safety   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The commission may impose an administrative penalty on a   facility [ in accordance with Chapter 241 ] if the facility fails to:                (1)  respond to the commission's request to submit a   corrective action plan; or                (2)  comply with the requirements of a corrective   action plan submitted to the commission.          (c)  For a facility with one of the following total gross   revenues [ as reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid   Services or to another entity designated by commission rule in the   year preceding the year in which a penalty is imposed ], the penalty   imposed by the commission may not exceed:                (1)  [ $10 for each day the facility violated this   chapter, if the facility's total gross revenue is less than   $10,000,000;                [ (2) ]  $100 for each violation of  [ day the facility   violated ] this chapter, if the facility's total gross revenue is   $10,000,000 or more and less than $100,000,000; and                 (2)  [ (3) ]  $1,000 for each day the facility violated   this chapter, if the facility's total gross revenue is $100,000,000   or more.          SECTION 4.  A health care facility required to disclose   billing information as a result of the amendment to Chapter 327,   Health and Safety Code, by this Act is not required to disclose   information in accordance with that chapter until August 31, 2029.          SECTION 5.  Section 327.008, Health and Safety Code, as   amended by this Act, applies only to a violation that occurs on or   after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs   before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it   existed on the date the violation occurred, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the Senate on   April 22, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;   May 29, 2025, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and   requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 30, 2025, House   granted request of the Senate; May 31, 2025, Senate adopted   Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,   Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the House, with   amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 133,   Nays 4, two present not voting; May 30, 2025, House granted request   of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;   May 31, 2025, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the   following vote:  Yeas 128, Nays 0, two present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________               Date       ______________________________              Governor