H.B. No. 541 amends the Texas Occupations Code by transferring and redesignating Subchapter F, Chapter 162, to Chapter 117, which focuses on direct patient care provided by physicians and health care practitioners. The bill introduces new definitions, including "direct fee," which refers to fees charged for health care services, and "direct patient care," which encompasses services provided in exchange for a direct fee. It also establishes the concept of a "direct patient care agreement," a written contract between a physician or health care practitioner and a patient or their representative for the provision of health care services.

The bill clarifies that direct patient care is not considered insurance and is not subject to regulation by the Texas Department of Insurance. It prohibits physicians and health care practitioners from billing insurers for services rendered under a direct patient care agreement and protects them from interference by state agencies or health insurers regarding their provision of direct patient care. Additionally, practitioners are required to inform patients that such agreements do not constitute insurance before entering into them. The changes apply only to agreements made after the bill's effective date, which is immediate upon receiving a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if not.