TX HB4046

Requires health benefit plan issuers to pay healthcare providers the full amount owed for emergency care, including the enrollee's cost-sharing liability (deductibles, copayments, coinsurance), rather than having providers collect from patients

Shifts sole responsibility for collecting cost-sharing amounts from enrollees to the insurance company, and requires issuers to offer payment plans throughout the plan year upon enrollee request

Prohibits insurers from withholding cost-sharing amounts from provider payments, requiring providers to offer additional discounts for emergency care, canceling coverage for failure to collect cost-sharing, or raising premiums/reducing provider payments to offset compliance costs

Requires updated explanation of benefits notices for emergency care to specify the total amount payable to providers, amounts owed by enrollees to the insurer, and itemized cost-sharing breakdowns

Applies to health benefit plans issued by insurance companies, HMOs, and other health plan issuers delivered or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, but exempts state Medicaid programs