TX HB251

Requires health care facilities to provide written price estimates within 24 hours of request (reduced from 10 business days) for nonemergency elective inpatient admissions, outpatient surgical procedures, and other services when a consumer presents a valid medical order

Defines "estimate" as the total amount a facility will accept as payment in full, inclusive of all payment sources, for nonemergency elective medical services

Caps final billed charges at no more than 5% above the provided estimate, unless additional charges result from complications arising during the procedure or an undiscoverable change in diagnosis documented in the patient's chart

Requires facilities to provide patients with a written explanation detailing the difference between the estimate and final bill, along with a plain-language description of any complications or diagnosis changes, when charges exceed the estimate by more than 5%

Prohibits facilities that violate these requirements from collecting payment, taking collection actions, reporting consumers to credit bureaus, or pursuing legal action against consumers, and subjects violating facilities to enforcement action by licensing agencies