Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1330 by Nelson (Relating to the immunization of elderly persons by certain health care facilities.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) indicates that implementing the provisions of the bill would require HHSC to adopt rules requiring a hospital to inform each elderly person admitted to the hospital for a period of 24 hours or more that the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are available. HHSC would also be required to adopt rules pertaining to ongoing care facilities to offer, to the extent possible as determined by the facility, the opportunity to receive the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines to each elderly person who receives ongoing care at the facility, or to provide the person with information on other options for obtaining the vaccine. HHSC anticipates any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) assumes that existing staff would be used to make available to hospitals and ongoing care facilities the educational and informational materials concerning vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease as required in the bill's provisions. The agency indicates that the informational and educational materials would be available through the DSHS Immunization website. It is assumed that any costs that DSHS may incur in implementing the provisions of the bill would be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 Department of State Health Services