2022 Texas Statutes
Insurance Code
Title 8 - Health Insurance and Other Health Coverages
Subtitle D - Provider Plans
Chapter 1301 - Preferred Provider Benefit Plans
Subchapter B. Relations With Physicians or Health Care Providers
Section 1301.067. Interference With Relationship Between Patient and Physician or Health Care Provider Prohibited
Sec. 1301.067. INTERFERENCE WITH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROHIBITED. (a) An insurer may not, as a condition of a preferred provider contract with a physician or health care provider or in any other manner, prohibit, attempt to prohibit, or discourage a physician or provider from discussing with or communicating to a current, prospective, or former patient, or a person designated by a patient, information or an opinion:
(1) regarding the patient's health care, including the patient's medical condition or treatment options; or
(2) in good faith regarding the provisions, terms, requirements, or services of the health insurance policy as they relate to the patient's medical needs.
(a-1) An insurer may not, as a condition of payment with a physician or health care provider or in any other manner, require a physician or health care provider to provide a notification form stating that the physician or health care provider is an out-of-network provider to a current, prospective, or former patient, or a person designated by the patient, if the form contains additional information that is intended, or is otherwise required to be presented in a manner that is intended, to intimidate the patient.
(b) An insurer may not in any way penalize, terminate the participation of, or refuse to compensate for covered services a physician or health care provider for discussing or communicating with a current, prospective, or former patient, or a person designated by a patient, pursuant to this section.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1, 2005.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 275 (H.B. 574), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015.