Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1782 by Cortez (Relating to a plan to increase the use of telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in this state.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. As the action plan required by the bill has not yet been developed, the Health and Human Services Commission is unable to determine what funding options may be available to implement the action plan, or determine the costs that could be associated with implementation of the short- and long-term plans.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement an action plan to expand telemedicine medical services and telehealth services. The bill would require the action plan to include short- and long-term plan recommendations, statutory and administrative reforms necessary to implement the plan, and options for the funding necessary to implement the plan.
The bill would require HHSC to submit the plan to the Governor and the Legislature and begin implementing the short-term plan by September 1, 2021. The bill would require HHSC to fully implement the short-term plan by September 1, 2023, and fully implement the long-term plan by September 1, 2029.
It is assumed the costs to develop the action plan could be absorbed within existing resources. However, as the action plan required by the bill has not yet been developed, HHSC is unable to determine what funding options may be available to implement the action plan, or determine the costs that could be associated with implementation of the short- and long-term plans.
HHSC indicates that Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics would require approval from the United States Department of Agriculture prior to initiating components of the action plan that are outside the current scope of the WIC program.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.