Sec. 154.002. INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION

(a) The board shall prepare:

(1) an alphabetical list of the names of the license holders;

(2) an alphabetical list of the names of the license holders by the county in which the license holder's principal place of practice is located;

(3) a summary of the board's functions;

(4) a copy of this subtitle and a list of other laws relating to the practice of medicine;

(5) a copy of the board's rules;

(6) a statistical report each fiscal year to the legislature and the public that provides aggregate information about all complaints received by the board categorized by type of complaint, including administrative, quality of care, medical error, substance abuse, other criminal behavior, and the disposition of those complaints by category; and

(7) other information considered appropriate by the board.

(b) The board shall provide:

(1) a copy of the information prepared under Subsection (a) to each person who requests a copy; and

(2) copies of the information prepared under Subsection (a) to each public library in this state that requests the copies.

(c) The board shall make available on the board's Internet website a consumer guide to health care. The board shall include information in the guide concerning the billing and reimbursement of health care services provided by physicians, including information that advises consumers that:

(1) the charge for a health care service or supply will vary based on:

(A) the person's medical condition;

(B) any unknown medical conditions of the person;

(C) the person's diagnosis and recommended treatment protocols; and

(D) other factors associated with performance of the health care service;

(2) the charge for a health care service or supply may differ from the amount to be paid by the consumer or the consumer's third-party payor;

(3) the consumer may be personally liable for payment for the health care service or supply depending on the consumer's health benefit plan coverage; and

(4) the consumer should contact the consumer's health benefit plan for accurate information regarding the plan structure, benefit coverage, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other plan provisions that may impact the consumer's liability for payment for the health care services or supplies.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 202, Sec. 6, eff. June 10, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 997 , Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2007.