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.