Relating to prohibited conduct of a health benefit plan issuer in relation to affiliated and nonaffiliated providers.

SB 1156 prohibits health benefit plan issuers (like insurance companies and health plans) from favoring their own affiliated providers over nonaffiliated ones. It bans issuers from offering higher reimbursement rates to nonaffiliated providers if they join an affiliated group and requires equal reimbursement for the same service between affiliated and nonaffiliated providers, except for value-based or capitation arrangements. The bill also prevents issuers from directing patients to use affiliated providers through targeted communications (like ads or online messages) or by requiring their use to get full benefits, with limited exceptions for lower rates or quality-based tiers. This law applies to most health plans in Texas starting January 1, 2026.