Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2792 by Darby (Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to reauthorize an existing telemedicine pilot program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center that is funded by grant from the Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC). The statutory authorization for the existing program expires January 1, 2021. The bill would extend this authorization to September 1, 2027 and would add the pilot program to a list of eligible uses for the 9-1-1 Equalization Surcharge. The bill also expands the scope of the pilot project to include telehealth.
According to CSEC, the Commission is able to fund the grant required for this program out of available resources.
According to the Texas Tech University System, the cost of the program cannot be determined at this time. However, given that CSEC has indicated that the existing grant could continue to be funded out of available resources this analysis assumes any costs to the Texas Tech University System could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.