LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  February 24, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable David Sibley, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 163
          Committee on Economic Development                              By: Zaffirini
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB163 ( Relating 
to coverage under health benefit plans for certain supplies 
and services associated with the treatment of diabetes.) this 
office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB163-As Introduced
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
negative impact of $(88,000) 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
 
This bill would require health plans that provide benefits for 
the treatment of diabetes and associated conditions to include 
coverage for diabetes equipment, diabetes supplies, and diabetes 
self-management training programs.  This bill would be applicable 
to health maintenance organizations (HMOs) participating in 
the state managed care system beginning September 1, 1998.

The 
only coverage required by this bill that is not provided by 
participating HMOs is for podiatric appliances for the prevention 
of complications associated with diabetes.  As a result, the 
bill is expected to increase HMO costs for ERS by $142,000 in 
fiscal year 1999, $150,000 in fiscal year 2000, $158,000 in 
fiscal year 2001, and $166,000 in fiscal year 2002.
 
Methodolgy
 
These increased costs to ERS were calculated by ERS' health 
actuary, under the following assumptions:

1.  HMO premiums 
will increase as a result of providing the coverage that is 
required by the bill.

2.  This will increase expenses to 
the Uniform Group Insurance Plan (UGIP).

3.  State contributions 
to UGIP will increase by the same amount.
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           
            Savings/(Cost)     Savings/(Cost)                                                             
            from General       from Other Funds                                                           
            Revenue Fund                                                                                  
            0001               8042                                                                        
       1998                $0                $0                                                      
       1998          (88,000)          (54,000)                                                      
       2000          (93,000)          (57,000)                                                      
       2001          (98,000)          (60,000)                                                      
       2002         (103,000)          (63,000)                                                      
 
 
         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                   $0
               1999             (88,000)
               2000             (93,000)
               2001             (98,000)
               2002            (103,000)
 
          
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   454   Department of Insurance
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         323   Teacher Retirement System and Optional Retirement Program
                                         327   Employees Retirement System
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,TH ,BK