| TO: | Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1919 by Smith, Todd (Relating to health benefit plan coverage for treatment for certain brain injuries and serious mental illnesses.), Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended |
The bill would amend the Insurance Code to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for testing, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration services in response to an acquired brain injury.
Based on the analysis of the Teacher Retirement System, it is assumed any costs associated with the bill would be insignificant because their health benefit plans currently provide coverage in compliance with the requirements of the bill. Based on the analysis of the Employees Retirement System (ERS), it is assumed the bill would not apply to health plans administered by ERS.
Based on the analysis the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), it is assumed that there would be a one-time revenue gain of $25,700 in the General Revenue Dedicated Account Fund 36 in fiscal year 2008 because the bill would result in 257 filings, each accompanied by a $100 filing fee. Since General Revenue Dedicated Account Fund 36 is a self-leveling account, this analysis assumes all revenue generated would go toward fund balances or the maintenance tax would be set to recover a lower level of revenue the following year. It is also assumed that any costs realized by TDI from implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007, and would only apply to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2008.
| Source Agencies: | 323 Teacher Retirement System, 327 Employees Retirement System, 454 Department of Insurance
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, JRO, MW, SK
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