By: Burrows H.B. No. 4197       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the prohibition or denial for the use of certain types   of health benefit plans or payment methods.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  A health care provider may not discriminate   against, nor deny service to, a patient because the patient or the   patient's agent or a third-party payor utilizes cash, a   reference-based health plan, or some other form of payment.          SECTION 2.  Health care providers and carriers are   prohibited from requiring the use of a third-party plan if the   patient or patient's payor choses to pay in cash or with some   alternative form of payment.          SECTION 3.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to effectuate   this policy.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1,. 2017.