LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 23, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House,
               House of Representatives
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB342  by McClendon (Relating to the study of disease
               management programs for children's asthma.), As Passed
               2nd House
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would partially implement recommendation HHS-11 from the
Comptroller's e-Texas report. The bill would direct the Department of
Health (TDH) to establish by rule a pilot study to compare preventative
disease management methods for treating children's asthma with
traditional methods of treating the disease.  It is assumed that TDH
could absorb any new administrative expenses within existing resources.
It is further assumed that only children already meeting current Medicaid
eligibility requirements would participate in the study, therefore, no
new client services costs would occur.

The bill would also establish an asthma and allergy research advisory
committee.  Reimbursement for travel and related expenses for the
committee would have to be authorized by the General Appropriations Act.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   501   Texas Department of Health, 304   Comptroller
                   of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, PP