LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session April 6, 1999 TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public Health FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB517 by Gray (Relating to Medicaid reimbursement for certain medical consultations.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * * * * 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 expand the use of Medicaid reimbursement for * * telemedical consultations. Health facilities that may eligible * * for reimbursement for telemedicine services are expanded from * * rural health facilities to licensed nonprofit hospitals and health * * clinics affiliated with accredited medical schools or a teaching * * hospital affiliated with an accredited medical school. To the * * extent that this modification enhances access to consultations for * * Medicaid eligible persons, it is possible that the Medicaid * * program could incur more costs than under current program * * operations. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, TP, KF