HBA-NRS H.B. 2671 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2671
By: Janek
Public Health
3/23/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The vaccines for children program (program) was developed to support
efforts to increase childhood immunization levels by providing vaccines to
eligible children. Over 70 percent of the state's children are eligible for
the program and to serve such a large number of patients many health care
providers need to participate. Increasing the number of providers enrolled
in the program will increase the number of places where parents can take
their children for vaccinations and may also reduce the number of vaccines
administered in largely understaffed public health clinics by shifting
patients to private physicians' offices where patients may also receive
more comprehensive medical care. House Bill 2671 requires the Texas
Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials
designed to promote the vaccines for children program to health care
providers not currently enrolled in the program. 

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 2671 requires the Texas Department of Health not later than
October 1, 2001, to develop and distribute educational materials designed
to promote and increase awareness of the vaccines for children program to
each health care provider, including a Medicaid provider, who is not
enrolled but is otherwise eligible to participate in the vaccines for
children program. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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