LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 17, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 3258
          Committee on Public Health                              By: Coleman
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB3258 ( Relating 
to the implementation of Medicaid managed care.) this office 
has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB3258-As Introduced
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
negative impact of $(271,895) to General Revenue Related Funds 
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal 
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions 
of the bill.
         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would amend current law governing the development of 
the health and human service delivery system by the Health and 
Human Services Commission.  The bill would require the Commission 
to include methods of financial reporting, quality assurance, 
utilization review and contract parameters, certain traditional 
providers, and maximal use of existing public health entities. 
The bill would also require providers to assure continuity of 
care for Medicaid acute and long-term care clients for 12 months 
beyond the period of eligibility.

The commission would be 
required to design the system in a manner that enables the state 
to use different types of health care delivery systems to meet 
the needs of different populations, including a pilot project 
to deliver services to adults with disabilities and persons 
with severe or persistent mental illness, and allow recipients 
with special needs to decide whether to participate in a managed 
care delivery system.

The bill would establish a Medicaid 
Managed Care Legislative Oversight Committee which would be 
composed of three members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant 
Governor and three members of the House of Representatives appointed 
by the Speaker of the House.  The committee would meet quarterly 
with HHSC to receive information about rules proposed or adopted 
related to Medicaid managed care and to review specific legislative 
recommendations related to Medicaid managed care.
 
Methodolgy
 
It is assumed that HHSC would delegate some of the responsibilities 
to the Department of Health but that the State Medicaid Office 
would add one new full-time equivalent position to implement 
the provisions related to the special needs populations, pilot 
development, and to support the Commission's responsibilities 
related to the legislative oversight committee.  The costs associated 
with the additional FTE would be phased in the first year ($42,806) 
and $56,204 for the remaining years of the pilot.  Evaluation 
costs of $50,000 are included in the third and fourth years 
as part of a standard requirement for a federally approved waiver. 
 It is assumed that these costs will be matched equally with 
federal funds.

It is assumed that modifications to existing 
systems will be required in order for the systems to identify 
individuals with special health care needs; to ensure that individuals 
with special needs are provided the option of fee-for-service 
or managed care plans; and to pay health care claims according 
to the selected health care delivery system.  Based on two recent 
changes to the eligibility system which required modifications 
to the existing eligibility determination system, it is estimated 
that 6,300 programming hours would be required to make the management 
information system changes.  It is assumed that those hours 
would be contracted at a rate of $70.60 per hour and that no 
new FTEs would be added for this purpose.  It is assumed that 
the costs would be funded in part with Medicaid matching dollars 
(50% federal and 50% state).

Currently there is not a specific 
definition for classifying an individual as one with special 
health care needs.  In the event that a significant number of 
individuals with special health care needs choose not to participate 
in a managed care plan, costs for this population may be greater 
than for those enrolled in managed care.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           Probable           Change in Number   
            Savings/(Cost)     Savings/(Cost)     of State                                                
            from General       from Federal Funds Employees from                                          
            Revenue Fund                          FY 1997                                                 
            0001               0555                                                                        
       1998        ($243,793)        ($243,793)               1.0                                    
       1998          (28,102)          (28,102)               1.0                                    
       2000          (53,102)          (53,102)               1.0                                    
       2001          (53,102)          (53,102)               1.0                                    
       2002          (28,102)          (28,102)               1.0                                    
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds 
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1998           ($243,793)
               1999             (28,102)
               2000             (53,102)
               2001             (53,102)
               2002             (28,102)
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
The provisions of the bill that require providers to continue 
coverage 12 months beyond Medicaid eligibility have the potential 
of significantly increasing costs to local providers.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   324   Department of Human Services
                                         655   Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
                                         529   Health and Human Services Commission
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,BB ,AZ