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


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2287
By: Edwards
Public Health
4/23/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Hospitals receive compensation for services rendered under the medical
assistance program through a reimbursement fund. Attending physicians at
such hospitals who provide medical services to patients covered for those
services under the medical assistance program are offered little to no
compensation and may be hesitant to treat such patients. C.S.H.B. 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

C.S.H.B. 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.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2287 modifies the original bill to authorize disproportionate
share hospitals to contract with physicians to provide medical services to
indigent patients, rather than paying such physicians directly from
reimbursements under the medical assistance program.