LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 13, 2015

TO:	Honorable Myra Crownover, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2641 by Zerwas (Relating to the exchange of electronic health information in this state.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 531 of the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure that all information systems available for use by health and human services agencies are compliant with the applicable data exchange standards developed by an organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The bill also amends the Health and Safety Code to add reporting of certain provided immunizations and health related conditions by health care providers to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

HHSC has indicated that the Enterprise Health Information Exchange Policy would need to be updated to ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. The costs to update the policy are immaterial and would be absorbed within existing resources.

HHSC has indicated that, while implementation of the bill could result in a fiscal impact to HHSC a specific estimate is not available. The number of exchanges out of compliance with national standards is unknown and HHSC does not have the information necessary to make appropriate assumptions to determine the fiscal impact.

DSHS has indicated that there is no fiscal impact for receiving data through health information exchanges and that any cost to implement systems that meet the standards of the bill will be factored into future information technology projects. 

It is anticipated that there would be no significant fiscal impact to the Texas Medical Board, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Aging and Disability Services as a result of this bill.

The bill would go into effect on September 1, 2015.

Local Government Impact

There may be a cost to local governments depending on the systems used to exchange or report data. Fiscal impact will vary depending on the local health department's available resources.

Source Agencies:

503 Texas Medical Board, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

UP, NB, MH, CG, KVe