Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4548 by Wray (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 amends the Health and Safety Code to add Chapters 292A and 292C, which authorize health care provider participation programs in certain counties. The provisions of Chapter 292A apply to a county that 1) is not served by a hospital district or a public hospital and 2) has a population of less than 600,000 and borders two counties both with populations of 1 million or more. The provisions of Chapter 292C apply to a county that 1) contains a hospital district that is not countywide, 2) has a population of more than 125,000 and 3) borders Oklahoma. A health care provider participation program would allow counties to collect a mandatory payment from non-public hospitals to fund intergovernmental transfers, subsidize indigent programs (applies only to counties authorized by Chapter 292A) and for payments to Medicaid managed care organizations that are dedicated for payment to hospitals. Intergovernmental transfers are used by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) as the nonfederal share to draw down Medicaid supplemental payments.
The nonfederal share of Texas Medicaid supplemental payments is provided largely by local public funds provided to HHSC by intergovernmental transfer. The bill's provisions do not contain any implications for state General Revenue funds. HHSC reports that there would be no significant fiscal impact to the agency resulting from implementation of the bill. It is assumed that HHSC would absorb any administrative costs using existing resources. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2019, or immediately with a vote of two-thirds of all members in both houses.
Local Government Impact
Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.