HBA-MPM H.B. 2602 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2602
By: Coleman
Public Health
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1999, the 76th Legislature passed legislation that updated the state
Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act of 1985.  This legislation shifted
the focus of county indigent health care programs to primary and preventive
care, and gave counties more flexibility to administer local programs
tailored to meet local needs. The legislation lowered the spending
threshold that a county must surpass to receive state financial assistance,
created a list of optional services a county may provide and receive credit
toward its threshold, and allowed counties to use less restrictive
eligibility standards.  The legislation also increased accountability by
allowing providers to collect eligibility information from patients,
allowing the Texas Department of Health to resolve eligibility disputes and
improve reporting.  House Bill 2602 ensures proper implementation of the
reforms enacted in 1999 by clarifying various provisions of the Indigent
Health Care and Treatment Act. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2602 amends the Health and Safety Code to update statutory
references and make clarifying changes to the Indigent Health Care and
Treatment Act. 

The bill authorizes a county or a health care provider, or a hospital and
health care provider, if they disagree on a patient's eligibility, to
submit the matter to the Texas Department of Health (TDH). The bill
specifies that an eligible county resident who qualifies for assistance
under the Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act is subject to general
eligibility criteria provided in state law, rather than county eligibility
requirements. 

H.B. 2602 deletes existing law that requires TDH to adopt rules governing
the distribution of state assistance under the Indigent Health Care and
Treatment Act and related rulemaking provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, of if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.