Senate Bill 916, 89th Legislature, 2025, extends the application of payment standards and the balance billing prohibitions for emergency medical services until September 1, 2027. Instead of requiring HMOs, health benefit plan administrators, and insurers to adjust future payments, SB 916 creates an annual opportunity to report data on the rates set, controlled, or regulated by a political subdivision.
TDI has reopened its data reporting portal to let political subdivisions submit updated rate data for 2025. Data submitted on or before September 1, 2025, will establish the payment standard for emergency medical services and ground transports provided between September 1 and December 31, 2025. Data previously reported for 2024 will continue to be published and used as the payment standard, unless a political subdivision submits rates.
TDI will announce an opportunity for political subdivisions to report data for new or updated rates that will apply during calendar year 2026.
TDI plans to amend rules to conform to SB 916, but rule amendments will not be adopted before the bill's effective date. TDI expects all regulated entities to comply with the statute's text as enacted, effective September 1, 2025.
Visit the EMS billing data call webpage for more information on how a political subdivision may submit rates to TDI.