Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1486 by Price (Relating to peer specialists, peer services, and the provision of those services under the medical assistance program.), As Passed 2nd House
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1486, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,532,623) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019. The agency is not required to implement the legislation in the absence of an appropriation.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
($439,866)
2019
($1,092,757)
2020
($1,393,176)
2021
($1,444,150)
2022
($1,497,340)
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from GR Match For Medicaid 758
Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($360,366)
($474,234)
($79,500)
2019
($1,013,257)
($1,361,843)
($79,500)
2020
($1,313,676)
($1,768,624)
($79,500)
2021
($1,364,650)
($1,837,250)
($79,500)
2022
($1,417,840)
($1,908,860)
($79,500)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), with input from certain stakeholders, to develop and adopt certain rules pertaining to peer specialists and peer services. The bill would require HHSC to establish a stakeholder work group to provide input for the adoption of rules pertaining to peer specialists and peer services. HHSC would be required to submit a report to certain entities if rules are not adopted by September 1, 2018. The bill would add peer services, provided by certified peer specialists, to the scope of services covered in the Medicaid program.
The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would be effective September 1, 2017. The bill would only take effect if the Eighty-fifth Legislature appropriates money specifically for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the bill; otherwise, the bill would not take effect.
Methodology
Assuming the Eighty-fifth Legislature appropriates funding for purposes of implementing the provisions of the bill, the monthly caseload for recipients receiving peer services in Medicaid is estimated to be 642 in fiscal year 2018 and 1,827 in fiscal year 2019 with increases in each subsequent year, reaching 2,559 by fiscal year 2022. The assumed average annual cost per recipient receiving these services is estimated to be $1,300 for fiscal years 2018 through 2022. The estimated increased cost to client services would be $0.8 million in All Funds, including $0.4 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2018 and $2.4 million in All Funds, including $1.0 million in General Revenue, in fiscal year 2019. The estimated client services cost would continue increasing in subsequent fiscal years, reaching $3.3 million in All Funds, including $1.4 million in General Revenue, by fiscal year 2022.
According to HHSC, there will be an annual vendor contract cost of $79,500 in General Revenue Funds for peer specialist training services, in fiscal years 2018 through 2022.
Any costs associated with the adoption of rules or establishment of a work group would not be significant and can be absorbed within the available resources of HHSC.
Costs could be delayed depending on the length of time necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.