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: HB714 by Naishtat (Relating to hearing screening for
newborn children.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB714, As Introduced: negative impact of $(230,573) through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(45,874) *
* 2001 (184,699) *
* 2002 (185,858) *
* 2003 (186,631) *
* 2004 (187,790) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* Year General Revenue Fund Federal Funds *
* 0001 0555 *
* 2000 $(45,874) $(73,126) *
* 2001 (184,699) (293,301) *
* 2002 (185,858) (295,142) *
* 2003 (186,631) (296,369) *
* 2004 (187,790) (298,210) *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require that a physician attending a newborn child or the
person attending the delivery of a newborn child ensure that the child
is subjected to a screening test approved by the Department of Health
for hearing impairments before the child is 181 days old.
Methodology
The Department of Health assumes that the only costs incurred by the
department would be in the Medicaid program for hearing aids and
audiological assessments and similar costs for children identified as
having a hearing impairment.
The hospital reimbursement for the screen would become part of the
Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) reimbursement in the Medicaid program.
However, the Department of Health has not provided the dollar value of
this impact; therefore, the cost estimates understate the fiscal impact
to the General Revenue Fund.
Local Government Impact
It is likely that hospital districts would incur some additional costs to
implement a universal hearing screening program for newborns.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, TP, KF