LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 30, 2001 TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public Health FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2700 by Chavez (Relating to certain services provided through telemedicine.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would provide for a telemedicine 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 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