Texas lawmakers in the recent legislative session passed a bill addressing surprise medical bills injured employees have received after being treated at federal military facilities. Senate Bill 935 requires workers’ compensation insurance reimbursement rates for medical care provided at a federal military treatment facility to be the same rate provided by federal regulations. It also clarifies that medical care provided at these facilities is exempt from certain state workers’ compensation requirements involving billing and preauthorization.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) had asked lawmakers to look at the issue after seeing an increase in complaints from injured employees who were billed for medical care at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, a Level 1 trauma center. The DWC is working on rules to enact new legislation that prevents injured employees from getting surprise medical bills after receiving treatment at federal military facilities.