By: Deuell S.B. No. 872

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to expenditures for indigent health care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 61.035, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.035. LIMITATION OF COUNTY LIABILITY. (a) The maximum county liability for each state fiscal year for health care services provided by all assistance providers, including a hospital and a skilled nursing facility, to each eligible county resident is:

(1) $30,000; or

(2) the payment of 30 days of hospitalization or treatment in a skilled nursing facility, or both, or $30,000, whichever occurs first, if the county provides hospital or skilled nursing facility services to the resident.

(b) The maximum county liability for each state fiscal year is eight percent of the county general revenue levy for that year on:

(1) services provided to an eligible resident as described in Sections 61.028 and 61.0285; or

(2) up to four percent of a county's general revenue levy may be credited as described in Section 61.036(d) or (e).

SECTION 2. Section 61.036, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, and regardless of the application, documentation, and verification procedures or eligibility standards established by the department under Subchapter A, a county may credit up to four percent of the county's general revenue levy as an expenditure toward the limitation of a county's liability per state fiscal year any intergovernmental transfer to the state made as part of a demonstration waiver program or other waiver program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1315 or 42 U.S.C. Section 1396n to provide health care under the terms of the waiver program.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, and regardless of the application, documentation, and verification procedures or eligibility standards established by the department under Subchapter A, a county may credit up to four percent of the county's general revenue levy as an expenditure toward the limitation of a county's liability per state fiscal year any intergovernmental transfer by a county to the state as part of the state plan for disproportionate share hospitals under 42 U.S.C. Section 1396r-4 or 1 T.A.C. Section 355.8065 et seq.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.