HBA-NRS H.B. 2287 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2287
By: Edwards
Public Health
7/10/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Hospitals receive compensation for services rendered under Medicaid through
a reimbursement fund. Attending physicians at such hospitals who provide
medical services to patients covered for those services under Medicaid may
be offered little to no compensation and may be hesitant to treat such
patients. House Bill 2287 authorizes a disproportionate share hospital to
contract with physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients
based on the hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services
Commission in SECTION 1 (Sec. 531.055, Government Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2287 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human
Services Commission by rule to provide a method by which a hospital
designated as a disproportionate share hospital may contract with
physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients based on the
hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.