LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 11, 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.), Committee Report 1st House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would provide for a telemedicine and telehealth pilot projects
that provide services 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