TX HB2616

Authorizes health benefit plan issuers (accident and health insurance companies and health maintenance organizations) to enter into contracts with each other to provide access to health care practitioners for their insureds or enrollees

Permits compensation between contracting plan issuers through fee-for-service arrangements, risk-sharing arrangements, capitation arrangements with fixed predetermined payments, or any combination of these methods

Capitation arrangements allow fixed payments for a defined set of covered services over a specified period regardless of the actual quantity of services provided

Requires that health care practitioners providing services under these inter-issuer contracts be paid only on a fee-for-service basis, regardless of the compensation arrangement between the plan issuers

Takes effect September 1, 2025