Supplement: TX HB617 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Fiscal Note (Engrossed)

For additional supplements on Texas HB617 please see the Bill Drafting List
Bill Title: Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas.

Status: 2023-06-12 - Effective on 9/1/23 [HB617 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB617-Fiscal_Note_Engrossed_.html
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 18, 2023

TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB617 by Darby (Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas.), As Engrossed


Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB617, As Engrossed : an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to
General Revenue Related Funds
2024$0
2025$0
2026$0
2027$0
2028$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
Comm State Emer Comm Acct
5007
2024($250,000)
2025($250,000)
2026($250,000)
2027($250,000)
2028($250,000)


Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to provide statutory authorization for a telehealth services pilot project to be jointly administered by the Commission on State Emergency Communications (CSEC) and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center (TTHSC) for the purpose of providing telehealth services in rural areas through TTHSC.

The bill would add the pilot project to a list of allowable uses for the equalization surcharge imposed on certain telephone accounts and deposited to General Revenue-Dedicated Commission on State Emergency Communications Account No. 5007.

Statutory authorization for the pilot project would expire September 1, 2029.

Methodology

According to CSEC, the cost of operating a previous, similar telehealth pilot program with TTHSC was approximately $250,000 per year. This analysis assumes that the operation of this pilot program would require funding similar in scope to that of the previous program and require funding out of General Revenue-Dedicated Commission on State Emergency Communication Account 5007.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
477 Commission on State Emergency Communications, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration
LBB Staff:
JMc, NPe, LCO, GP
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