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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2287
By: Edwards
Public Health
3/28/2001
Introduced



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 for providing medical services and may be hesitant to treat
such patients. House Bill 2287 authorizes a hospital to share with its
attending physicians reimbursement for services provided to patients under
the medical assistance program. 

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 prescribe a method by which a hospital that
receives reimbursement for services provided to a patient under the medical
assistance program may pay a portion of that reimbursement to the patient's
attending physician. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.