The bill, H.B. No. 2631, introduces Chapter 328 to the Health and Safety Code, which specifically addresses prohibited facility fees for telehealth and telemedicine services. It defines key terms such as "facility fee," "health care provider," and "telehealth service," and explicitly states that health care providers are not allowed to charge facility fees for these services. The bill aims to ensure that patients are not burdened with additional costs when accessing telehealth and telemedicine.

To enforce this prohibition, the bill grants the Health and Human Services Commission the authority to impose an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 on any health care provider that violates the provisions of this chapter. Additionally, it clarifies that this section does not create a private cause of action against providers. The executive commissioner is also empowered to adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this chapter. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

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