LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 17, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1537  by Coleman (Relating to a study and a pilot
               program regarding the provision of medical assistance and
               certain health benefits plan coverage for children of
               migrant or seasonal agricultural workers.), Committee
               Report 1st House, Substituted
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1537, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted:  negative impact     *
*  of $(436,569) through the biennium ending August 31, 2003.            *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                           $(121,000)  *
          *       2003                            (315,569)  *
          *       2004                            (315,635)  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    0  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal      Probable        Probable        Probable        Probable     *
* Year    Savings/(Cost)  Savings/(Cost)  Savings/(Cost)  Savings/(Cost)  *
*         from GR Match   from Medicaid    from Tobacco     from CHIP     *
*          for Medicaid  Federal Funds -  Match for CHIP Federal Funds -  *
*              0758          Federal      (Article II -      Federal      *
*                              0555         Permanent          0555       *
*                                             Funds)                      *
*                                              8025                       *
*  2002        $(121,000)      $(121,000)              $0              $0 *
*  2003         (260,891)       (653,535)        (54,678)       (140,532) *
*  2004         (260,957)       (653,535)        (54,678)       (140,532) *
*  2005                 0               0               0               0 *
*  2006                 0               0               0               0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
The Department of Human Services (DHS) estimates 2,200 automation hours
will be required to identify the children at issue. The cost would be
$242,000.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to
conduct a feasibility study relative to setting up a migrant care
network to provide health care services to children of migrant or
seasonal agricultural workers who are enrolled in Medicaid or Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If the HHSC determines that the project
is feasible, it shall implement a pilot project. The bill would be
effective on September 1, 2002, and would expire on September 1, 2003.
  
  
Methodology
  
It is assumed that the pilot project would be implemented as follows:
1. For CHIP, the benefit cost is $114.23 per month per child for 200
children.
2. For Medicaid, the benefit cost is $145.81 per month per child for 500
children.
3. The pilot would not be implemented until FY 2003.
4. The study could be absorbed within existing resources.
5. The participants in the migrant care network would work outside of the
state for nine months per year.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   529   Health and Human Services Commission, 324
                   Texas Department of Human Services, 501   Texas
                   Department of Health
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, AJ