LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session March 23, 1995 TO: Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 997, Committee on Public Health as amended House of Representatives By: Cuellar, Henry Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 997 (relating to health insurance coverage for children who are ineligible for Medicaid) this office has determined the following: The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would require the Texas Department of Health to develop a pilot program to provide primary care insurance coverage to children under 13 who are not eligible for Medicaid and authorize the State Medicaid program to develop a waiver for a pilot program for children whose parents do not have access to private health insurance. The bill would suggest, but not require, that the Department of Health provide the program through the public schools. The costs associated with this bill, detailed below, would be for professional services in association with the development and design, as well as marketing of the pilot program. It is assumed that services would be delivered through a private or non-profit insurance package purchased by the children's families. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Fiscal Probable Cost Out Change in Year of General Number of State Revenue Fund 001 Employees from FY 1995 1996 $100,000 .0 1997 200,000 .0 1998 200,000 .0 1999 200,000 .0 2000 200,000 .0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Department of Health LBB Staff: JK, AZ, KF, DF