Relating to price estimates and billing requirements for certain health care facilities.

SB 1219 requires Texas health care facilities to provide patients with written price estimates for nonemergency elective procedures (like surgeries or inpatient admissions) before scheduling. Facilities must deliver these estimates within 24 hours of a patient’s request, detailing the total amount they’ll accept as full payment, and explain factors that may affect final costs. The bill also limits final bills to no more than 5% above the estimate, unless charges result from unforeseen complications or a new diagnosis documented in the patient’s chart. This directly affects patients seeking elective care and healthcare facilities that provide such services, aiming to increase billing transparency.