LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Health & Human Services
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1483  by Duncan (Relating to certain services provided
               through telemedicine.), As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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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