HB 4145

relating to the timely billing of health care services related to a
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 146.002, Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c) and subject
to Subsection (c-1), a health care service provider shall bill a
patient or other responsible person for services provided to the
patient not later than the first day of the 11th month after the
date the services are provided.
(c-1)  If a health care service provider provides services to
a patient that are related to a personal injury claim for which the
patient is represented by an attorney and unless otherwise directed
by the patient or other responsible person, the provider may
satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by submitting the bill
to the patient's attorney not later than the first day of the 11th
month after the date the services are provided.
(d)  For purposes of this section, the date of billing is the
date on which the health care service provider's bill is:
(1)  mailed to the patient, [or] responsible person, or
attorney representing the patient, as applicable, postage prepaid,
at the address of the patient, [or] responsible person, or attorney
representing the patient as shown on the health care service
(2)  mailed or otherwise submitted to the issuer of the
health benefit plan or third party payor as required by the health
benefit plan or third party payor.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a health care service provided on or after the effective date of
this Act.  A health care service provided before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.