BILL ANALYSIS
By: Nelson
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, Texas is in need of statewide leadership and coordination on indigent health care programs. CSSB 44 restores the Indigent Health Care Advisory Committee (committee) which was repealed by HB 2292, 78th Legislature, by incorporating it in statute. The committee would allow appointed representatives to advise the executive commissioner of Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) on rules and policies concerning indigent health care services.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The substitute requires the executive commissioner of the HHSC to establish an advisory committee to advise the commission on rules and policies concerning indigent health care services. It requires the committee to consist of 11 members, including four consumers or persons representing consumers and seven other representatives, appointed by the executive commissioner of the HHSC. The advisory committee is required to conduct a feasibility study and develop recommendations regarding the implementation of a pilot program for the regionalization of county indigent health care services and assistance and hospital district services and assistance. The advisory committee must also review and propose recommendations for legislation updating indigent health care and treatment, including health care services, the differences in eligibility requirements for and health care services provided by a county, public hospital and a hospital district, the allocation method used for distributing state assistance funds as well as county reporting requirements, and enforcement by the department and identify other areas or subjects related to indigent health care that the advisory committee could review or study. Chapter 2110 of the Government Code, on state agency advisory committees, does not apply to this committee's size or composition. Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the HHSC is required to report on the advisory committee's recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and the legislature. This section expires September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute modifies the original by adding the requirements regarding what the advisory committee will do. It also adds an expiration date for the section.