Bill > SB30

This bill provides comprehensive new guidelines for how health care expenses can be calculated and presented as evidence in civil lawsuits involving personal injury or wrongful death in Texas. The legislation defines key terms like "health care expenses," "providers" (which includes a wide range of medical professionals and institutions), and "third-party payors" (like insurance companies and government health programs), and establishes specific rules about what financial evidence can be introduced in court. Under the new law, if a third-party payor has already paid for medical services, only the amount actually paid plus any patient out-of-pocket costs can be presented as evidence of damages. If no third-party payor was involved, plaintiffs can present several types of evidence to demonstrate reasonable medical costs, including Medicare allowable amounts, workers' compensation fee guidelines, average amounts collected by providers, contracted insurance rates, or the provider's original billed charges. The bill also requires significant disclosure from claimants, including revealing any "letters of protection" (agreements about future payment from lawsuit proceeds), medical provider referral information, and authorizing full medical record access. Additionally, the law mandates that medical records, billing statements, and certain financial relationships between attorneys and medical providers can be admitted as evidence. These provisions aim to create more transparency and standardization in how medical expenses are calculated and presented in civil litigation, potentially impacting how damages are determined in health care-related lawsuits.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs, Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB30