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Notice To Our Patients

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NOTICE TO OUR PATIENTS

Texas Health and Safety code §254.155, §254.156, §254.157, §254.158 requires that all freestanding emergency centers are to post the following information:

Sec. 254.155. NOTICE OF FEES.

  • (a) A facility shall post notice that:
    • (1) states:
      • (A) the facility is a freestanding emergency medical care facility;
      • (B) the facility charges rates comparable to a hospital emergency room and may charge a facility fee;
      • (C) a facility or a physician providing medical care at the facility may be an out-of-network provider for the patient's health benefit plan provider network; and
      • (D) a physician providing medical care at the facility may bill separately from the facility for the medical care provided to a patient; and
    • (2) either:
      • (A) lists the health benefit plans in which the facility is an in-network provider in the health benefit plan's provider network; or
      • (B) states the facility is an out-of-network provider for all health benefit plans.
  • (b) The notice required by this section must be posted prominently and conspicuously:
    • (1) at the primary entrance to the facility;
    • (2) in each patient treatment room;
    • (3) at each location within the facility at which a person pays for health care services; and
    • (4) on the home page of the facility's Internet website or on a different page available through a hyperlink that is:
      • (A) entitled "Insurance Information"; and
      • (B) located prominently on the home page.
  • (c) The notice required by Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (3) must be in legible print on a sign with dimensions of at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches.
  • (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a facility that is an in-network provider in one or more health benefit plan provider networks complies with Subsection (a)(2) if the facility:
    • (1) provides notice on the facility's Internet website listing the health benefit plans in which the facility is an in-network provider in the health benefit plan's provider network; and
    • (2) provides to a patient written confirmation of whether the facility is an in-network provider in the patient's health benefit plan's provider network.
  • (e) A facility may not add to or alter the language of a notice required by this section.

PATIENT RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES

You have the Right to:

  • Be informed of your rights at the time of admission. In case of transfer, you have the right to choose the hospital of your choice.
  • Receive a Medical Screening Examination within the capabilities of this emergency facility, staff and any necessary stabilizing treatment, if you have a medical emergency or are in active labor; and do receive an appropriate transfer to another facility, even if you cannot pay, have no medical insurance or are not entitled to Medicare or Medicaid.
  • Expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay along with good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
  • Effective communication with healthcare professionals in a manner that you understand. ER OF TEXAS 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ROOM will provide sign language or foreign language interpreters as needed. Information given will be appropriate to your age, understanding, and language. If you have vision, speech, and/or hearing impairments, we will provide you with additional communication aids to ensure your care needs are met.
  • Considerate and respectful care that respects culture, personal values, beliefs, and preferences that supports personal dignity regardless of age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or source of payment.
  • Pain management appropriate to your medical diagnosis, treatment, or procedure.
  • Access, request amendment to, and obtain information on disclosures of personal health information in accordance with law and regulations.
  • Be involved in making decisions about your care, treatment, or services and receive full information concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, alternative treatments, and possible outcomes including at the end of life.
  • Consent or refuse care, treatment, or services, in accordance with law and regulations.
  • Informed consent prior to the start of a procedure, treatment, or service.
  • Have a surrogate decision-maker consent or refuse care, treatment, or services for you and he/she will be provided outcome information in order for you to participate in current or future health care decisions.
  • Have your family involved in the care, treatment, or services with your permission or your surrogate decision-maker.
  • Be told the names of your doctors, nurses, and all healthcare team members.
  • Full privacy and confidentiality in care discussions, exams, and treatments except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangement.
  • Give or withhold consent to produce or use recordings, films, or other images for purposes other than your care.
  • Agree or refuse to take part in medical research studies and may withdraw from a study at any time without impacting your access to standard care.
  • Receive care in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment.
  • Voice your concerns about the care you received. If you have a problem or complaint.

Patient Responsibilities:

  • You are expected to provide to the best of your knowledge complete and accurate information about your present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to your health.
  • You are expected to ask questions when you do not understand your care, treatment, or services that have been provided or proposed.
  • You are expected to follow instructions about your care, treatment, or services, or concerns about your ability to follow the proposed plan of care, treatment, or services.
  • You are responsible for outcomes if you do not follow or refuse the care, treatment, and service plan.
  • You are expected to report any unexpected changes in your condition to the facility staff. Your doctor, nurse, or facility manager. If your concern is not resolved to your liking, you may also contact:

TEXAS DEPARTMENT of HEALTH SERVICES PATIENT QUALITY CARE UNIT HEALTH FACILITY COMPLIANCE

PO BOX 14937, MAIL CODE 1979

AUSTIN, TX 78714-9347

1-888-973-0022

HCF.COMPLAINTS@DSHS.STATE.TX.US

  • You are expected to provide us with a copy of your advanced directive if you have one. You are expected to show respect and consideration for emergency room staff, other patients, and visitors and their property.
  • You are expected to show respect and consideration for emergency room staff, other patients, and visitors and their property.
  • You are expected to follow the policies and procedures the facility has set forth for your safety and well-being.
  • You are expected to provide complete and accurate information about your health insurance coverage and to pay your bills in a timely manner.

Thank you for trusting us with your medical care needs. ER OF TEXAS EMERGENCY ROOM’S Patient Advocate is available to you for any concerns, questions, or information regarding your care or your billing statement. The Patient Advocate can be reached by phone at 469-430-7233.

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs,like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. You may have additional costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” means providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your healthplan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be allowed to bill you for the difference between what your plan pays and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your plan’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.

You’re protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of- network provider or facility, the most they can bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for thesepost-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers can bill you isyour plan’s innetwork cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible. pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other types of services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

State law bans balance bills for the following received on or after January 1, 2020: Emergency care and Care provided at in-network facilities when the patient didn’t have a choice of doctors.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have these protections:
  • You’re only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductible that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay any additional costs to out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
  • Generally, your health plan must:
    • Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (also known as “prior authorization”)
    • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
    • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
    • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your in-network deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, contact [Insert contact information for entity responsible for enforcing the federal and/or state balance or surprise billing protection laws. The federal phone number for information and complaints is: 1-800-985-3059].

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