LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 27, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1589  by Zaffirini (Relating to fraudulent claims for
               medical or health care benefits submitted under certain
               state programs.), As Engrossed
  
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*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
*                                                                        *
*  It is assumed that affected agencies can implement the requirements   *
*  of the bill within existing resources.                                *
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The bill would expand the scope of the health care claims study and
require that certain steps be taken to improve the accuracy of future
studies.  The bill would increase the State's ability to assess the
efficacy of its current and future fraud and abuse control efforts.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   529   Health and Human Services Commission, 304
                   Comptroller of Public Accounts, 517   Commission on
                   Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 655   Texas Department of
                   Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 501
                   Department of Health, 327   Employees Retirement
                   System
LBB Staff:         JK, TP, AZ