BILL ANALYSIS
By: Laubenberg
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Much discussion of late has centered around the regionalization of indigent health care throughout the state. However, the discussion should include both public hospitals and local county officials. While regionalized health is a possible solution to the state's indigent health care situation, all options should be explored. Accordingly, CSHB 3154 seeks to encourage such study by establishing a regional health care systems review task force, which would include the local county governments and county hospitals.
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
CSHB 3154 creates the regional health care systems review committee (committee) to study the implications of, implementing regional health care service to address indigent health care in the region. The bill defines "region" to mean the area formed by counties in public health region three (composed of Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties).
The bill establishes that the committee consists of certain locally elected officials and the chief executive officer of each public and nonprofit hospital system in the region. The bill requires the committee to examine whether a regional system providing indigent health care should be offered state wide; whether there should be a mechanism for additional counties to participate in the system; and to perform a review of certain funding and financing options. The bill provides the committee must meet before September 30, 2007 to adopt certain rules and to establish a work plan and schedule. The committee may also accept certain funds to carry out its functions, and it is required to issue a report on its findings, recommendations and legislative proposals., no late than September 1, 2008. The committee is also required to submit a copy of the report to the governor, lieutenant governor and Speaker of the House, no later than December 1, 2008. This section expires September 1, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute modifies the original by changing the membership of the committee to include the chief executive officer of each public and non profit hospital system in the region instead of the executive director of each public hospital in the region. The original requires the committee to examine whether a regional system of health care should be offered through the region, where the substitute provides whether a regional system to provide indigent health care should be offered throughout the region, and adds a review of funding indigent health care in the region. It changes the effective date from upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2007 to September 1, 2007.