LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 18, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House,
               House of Representatives
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2700  by Chavez (Relating to certain services provided
               through telemedicine.), As Passed 2nd House
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would provide for a telemedicine or telehealth pilot project in
areas not more than 150 miles from the Texas-Mexico border.  The bill
would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to
establish an advisory committee which would be required to prepare an
implementation report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of
the House of Representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the
Senate and House of Representatives by September 1, 2003.  The bill
would provide for grants to health care facilities providing
telemedicine or telehealth services as part of the pilot project.  The
bill would be effective on September 1, 2001.  Based upon the Texas
Department of Health's cost estimate, clients who would participate in
the pilot project are already receiving services through Medicaid, the
Children's Health Insurance Program, or the Children with Special Health
Care Needs program, thus, there would be no new costs in providing
services.  Reimbursement for travel and related expenses for the
advisory committee would require authorization in 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, 529   Health and
                   Human Services Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, AJ, KF