Honorable Charles Schwertner, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3954 by Gonzales, Larry (Relating to the creation and operations of health care provider participation programs in certain counties.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code by adding a chapter to establish a health care provider participation program for certain counties that have a population of more than 400,000 and are adjacent to the county containing the capital of the state. The health care provider participation program would authorize a county to collect mandatory payments from nonpublic hospitals licensed under Chapter 241. These payments would be deposited into a local provider participation fund to fund intergovernmental transfers and subsidize indigent care programs. Intergovernmental transfers would be used by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) as the nonfederal share to draw down Medicaid supplemental payments including payments to the Medicaid managed care program that are dedicated for payment to hospitals. The bill specifies that if a state agency determines that a waiver from a federal agency is necessary, the agency shall request the waiver and delay implementation until such waiver is received.
The nonfederal share of Texas Medicaid supplemental payments is provided largely by local public funds provided to HHSC by intergovernmental transfer. The bill's amendments do not contain any implications for state General Revenue funds. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, there would be no significant fiscal impact to the agency resulting from implementation of the bill.
According to the Health and Human Services Commission, there is no significant fiscal impact to the state anticipated from the bill.
This bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of each house. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect it would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
The Health and Human Services Commission assumes there is no fiscal impact to local government entities from the bill.
According to Williamson County, no significant fiscal impact to the County is anticipated.