SRC-VRA S.B. 1171 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1171 By: Janek Health & Human Services 4/1/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Trauma care is often life-saving and expensive. As proposed, S.B. 1171 requires the Health and Human Services Commission to establish a demonstration project to provide trauma care to trauma victims in Harris and Galveston counties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 32.057, as follows: Sec. 32.057. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR TRAUMA VICTIMS. (a) Defines "intoxicated," "project," "traumatic injury," "trauma care," and "trauma victim." (b) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a demonstration project providing trauma care to trauma victims. Requires the project to be established in Harris and Galveston counties. (c) Requires HHSC to ensure that the project is financed using certain funds. (d) Provides that a person is eligible to participate in the project if the person meets certain conditions. (e) Provides that participation in the project does not entitle a person to other services provided under the medical assistance program. (f) Requires all funds, assessments, and proceeds received or collected under this section to be remitted to and administered by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which is required to deposit the funds in an account to be known as the trauma care demonstration project fund. Authorizes revenues from the fund to be used only for the provision of trauma care under this section. Requires the council to submit quarterly fund reports to HHSC. (g) Requires HHSC, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a biennial report to the legislature relating to HHSC's progress in establishing and operating the project. (h) Requires HHSC, not later than December 1, 2006, to evaluate the costeffectiveness of the project, including whether the services and medications provided to project participants reduce the cost of future medical care by an amount that is greater than the cost of the trauma care. Requires HHSC, if the results of the evaluation indicate that the project is cost-effective, to incorporate a request for funding for the expansion of the project into additional counties or throughout the state, as appropriate, in HHSC's budget request for the next state fiscal biennium. (i) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2007. SECTION 2. Requires the state agency responsible for implementing the trauma care demonstration project required under Section 32.057, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, to request and actively pursue any necessary waivers or authorizations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the United States Department of Health and Human Services or other appropriate entities to enable the agency to implement the project not later than September 1, 2004. Authorizes the agency to delay implementing the project until the necessary waivers or authorizations are granted. SECTION 3. Effective: upon passage or September 1, 2003.