Honorable James B. Frank, Chair, House Committee on Human Services
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3991 by Bohac (Relating to the deaf-blind with multiple disabilities waiver program.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3991, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($6,002,186) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($1,893,258)
2021
($4,108,928)
2022
($5,399,488)
2023
($5,833,674)
2024
($6,417,576)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable (Cost) from Federal Funds 555
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($1,895,718)
($3,120,431)
$2,460
2.0
2021
($4,119,946)
($6,960,331)
$11,018
2.0
2022
($5,380,600)
($9,108,408)
($18,888)
2.0
2023
($5,853,639)
($9,901,805)
$19,965
2.0
2024
($6,438,371)
($10,884,567)
$20,795
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would direct the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish minimum reimbursement rates for certain service providers under the Deaf-Blind Multiple disabilities (DBMD) waiver program. The rates would take into account the provider's level of training, education, and experience and be adjusted annually for inflation. The bill would also increase the number of persons receiving services through the DBMD waiver program by 100 in each year of the 2020-21 biennium, and then by 10 percent of the program's interest list each subsequent year.
Methodology
The bill would increase certain rates in the DBMD program every year. It would also increase client services costs in the program. HHSC assumes a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) of 60.89 percent. HHSC estimates the All Funds costs related to client services as $4.8 million in FY 2020 and $10.9 million in FY 2021.
The agency indicates that provisions of the bill would require two additional FTEs, a Contract Specialist IV to perform functions related to enrollment and contract administration and Nurse IV to performs functions related to representing the agency at hearings and providing assistance to local IDD authorities and staff. The agency estimates costs of approximately $0.4 million in All Funds impact for program support, including salaries, overhead, and other costs, for the 2020-21 biennium.
Technology
The agency indicates that the total technology cost is estimated to be: $11,940 in FY 2020 and $9,934 in FY 2021 through FY 2024 and that additional capital authority of $15,352 for the 2020-21 biennium would be required for the technology impact.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.