| TO: | Honorable Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1767 by Harris (Relating to charity care and government-sponsored indigent health care provided at certain for-profit hospitals.), As Introduced |
The bill would require a hospital, other than certain non-profit hospitals or hospitals owned or operated by a political subdivision, in order to maintain its license, to provide charity care and government-sponsored indigent health care. The amount of charity care would be required to equal at least 5 percent of the hospital’s net patient revenue and 4 percent for government-sponsored indigent health care. Reductions in the amount of charity care and indigent health care would be allowed only in the event of a natural or other disaster.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.
The Department of State Health Services reports that it would be utilized to verify compliance with the proposed statute, but the agency would absorb any associated responsibilities using existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 537 Department of State Health Services
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, DLBa
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