LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 22, 2011

TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
 
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2636 by Kolkhorst (Relating to a commission to study neonatal intensive care units.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would direct the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to create and appoint the members of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Commission to study and make recommendations regarding neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) operating standards and reimbursement through the Medicaid program. The bill would direct the commission to develop standards for operating a NICU, develop an accreditation process, and study and make recommendations regarding best practices and protocols to lower admissions to NICUs. The bill would authorize the commission to accept gifts and grants from any source but would not authorize compensation or reimbursement of expenses for a member of the commission.

The bill would require the commission to submit a report to the executive commissioner, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the appropriate legislative committees on its findings and recommendations.

The bill would require the executive commissioner to appoint the members of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Commission no later than December 1, 2011.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.

This analysis assumes the Health and Human Services Commission could implement the provisions of the bill by utilizing existing agency resources.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
529 Health and Human Services Commission
LBB Staff:
JOB, CL, MB, ES, VJC