LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 14, 2023

TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB12 by Rose (Relating to the duration of services provided under Medicaid to women following a pregnancy.), As Engrossed


Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB12, As Engrossed : a negative impact of ($147,018,356) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to
General Revenue Related Funds
2024($29,447,556)
2025($117,570,800)
2026($79,524,923)
2027($75,401,663)
2028($79,419,366)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GR Match For Medicaid
758
Probable Savings/(Cost) from
Federal Funds
555
Probable Savings from
GR Match For Medicaid
758
Probable Savings from
Federal Funds
555
2024($33,620,085)($52,003,382)$4,172,529$5,373,469
2025($155,346,020)($231,809,170)$31,166,097$37,303,472
2026($156,515,536)($233,311,452)$69,331,534$87,648,828
2027($157,142,407)($234,245,904)$79,220,375$101,740,423
2028($162,755,014)($242,612,394)$79,288,024$101,409,377

Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain from
General Revenue Fund
1
Probable Revenue Gain from
Foundation School Fund
193
2024$0$0
2025$4,956,842$1,652,281
2026$5,744,309$1,914,770
2027$1,890,277$630,092
2028$3,035,718$1,011,906


Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to continue Medicaid coverage to women enrolled during a pregnancy for at least 12 months, beginning the last day of the woman's pregnancy.

The bill would require HHSC to seek a state plan amendment (SPA) to implement the bill. 

Methodology

The bill would result in women enrolled in Medicaid during pregnancy receiving ten additional months of post-partum coverage, beginning on the last day of the month of the woman's pregnancy. The extended coverage is expected to result in savings to the Medicaid program from averted births and savings to the Healthy Texas Women program.

It is assumed services would begin March 1, 2024. The additional average monthly caseload associated with extended coverage is estimated to be 27,147 in fiscal year 2024, increasing to an average of 121,623 in fiscal years 2025 to 2028. The average monthly cost per recipient is estimated to be $261.20 in fiscal year 2024, increasing in each subsequent year to $277.06 in fiscal year 2028. The total estimated cost of the extended coverage for client services is estimated to be $85.1 million in All Funds, including $33.4 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2024 increasing in each subsequent year to $405.4 million in All Funds, including $162.8 million in General Revenue, by fiscal year 2028.

Estimated Medicaid savings associated with averted births, including reduced costs for pregnant women and newborns, is less than $0.1 million in All Funds in fiscal year 2024, increasing in fiscal year 2025 to $28.1 million in All Funds, including $11.3 million in General Revenue. Estimated savings increase in subsequent years to $152.5 million in All Funds, including $11.3 million in General Revenue, by fiscal year 2028. Estimated savings also include increased vendor drug rebates totaling $3.1 million in in All Funds in fiscal year 2024, including $1.2 million in General Revenue, and increasing to $14.9 million in All Funds, $8.9 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2028.

The bill would reduce the number of clients served in Healthy Texas Women (HTW), since eligible women would not transition until 12 months after their pregnancy ends. Postpartum services provided in HTW Plus will also decrease to only those women who are not enrolled in Medicaid for Pregnant Women. Savings to the Healthy Texas Women program assume a mix of General Revenue and Federal Funds and is estimated to be $6.3 million in All Funds, including $2.9 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2024, increasing in subsequent years to $13.3 million in All Funds, including $12.1 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2028.

The net increases in client services payments through managed care are assumed to result in an increase to insurance premium tax revenue, estimated as 1.75 percent of the increased managed care expenditures. Revenue is adjusted for assumed timing of payments and prepayments resulting in increased collections estimated to be $6.6 million in fiscal year 2025, $7.7 million in fiscal year 2026, $2.5 million in fiscal year 2027, and $4.0 million in fiscal year 2028. Pursuant to Section 227.001(b), Insurance Code, 25 percent of the revenue is assumed to be deposited to the credit of the Foundation School Fund.

HHSC will be required to submit Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) state plan amendments and an 1115 waiver amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It is assumed that any costs associated with this process could be absorbed using existing resources.

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, otherwise this Act takes effect September 1, 2023

Technology

HHSC estimates that there will be a onetime cost of $461,000 in All Funds, $188,552 in General Revenue, to make application and systems modifications to the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) and the Eligibility Supported Technologies (EST) in fiscal year 2024. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission
LBB Staff:
JMc, NPe, ER, CST, NV