RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 586 (SB 443) 2016 Regular Session Hewitt
Prior law provided the duties of the Health and Social Services Estimating Conference to be
developing official information relating to the health and social service system of the state,
including forecasts of social and health service caseloads, as the conference determines is
needed for the state planning and budgeting system. Provided that the principals of the
Conference are the following persons:
(1)One member of the professional staff of the office of the governor to be appointed
by the governor.
(2)One member of the professional staff of the division of administration to be
appointed by the commissioner of administration.
(3)One member of the professional staff of the legislature who shall have fiscal
expertise to be appointed by the president of the Senate.
(4)One member of the professional staff of the legislature who shall have fiscal
expertise to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(5)One member of the professional staff of the Department of Health and Hospitals
(DHH) who shall have forecasting expertise to be appointed by the secretary of
DHH.
(6)One member of the professional staff of the Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS) who shall have forecasting expertise to be appointed by the
secretary of DCFS.
New law retains these provisions and adds additional persons as principals to the
Conference:
(1)The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or his designee.
(2)The chairman of the House Committee on Health and Welfare, or his designee.
(3) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, or his designee.
(4) The chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, or his designee.
(5)The secretary of DHH, or his designee.
(6)The secretary of DCFS, or his designee.
(7)The legislative fiscal officer, or his designee who shall have healthcare experience.
(8)A faculty member specializing in healthcare economics from a public or private
university in the state, selected by the other principal members from a list submitted
by the Board of Regents.
Prior law provided that the principal representing the office of the governor shall preside
over sessions of the conference. New law provides for the chairmanship to rotate annually
among the four legislative committee chairmen serving as principals.
New law further requires the conference to meet at least quarterly to receive information
from the Medicaid Subcommittee.
New law provides for a Medicaid Subcommittee of the conference responsible for
developing forecasts and reviewing information related to the Medicaid Program, including
the number of Medicaid enrollees, eligibility criteria, rate of utilization and growth in the
cost of services, provider reimbursement methodologies, and the factors used in developing
the per-member-per-month premiums paid to the Medicaid managed care companies.
New law creates the Medicaid Subcommittee of the Conference composed of the following
persons: (1)One member of the professional staff of the division of administration to be
appointed by the commissioner of administration.
(2)One member of the professional staff of the legislature who shall have fiscal
expertise to be appointed by the president of the Senate.
(3)One member of the professional staff of the legislature who shall have fiscal
expertise to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representives.
(4)One member of the professional staff of DHH who shall have forecasting expertise
to be appointed by the secretary of DHH.
(5)The legislative fiscal officer, or his designee who shall have healthcare experience.
(6)A faculty member specializing in healthcare economics to be selected by members
of the conference.
New law provides that the chairmanship of the subcommittee shall rotate biennially among
the professional legislative staff appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of
the House of Representatives.
New law provides that the subcommittee meet as follows in the months indicated:
(1)In September, to establish an initial forecast for the ensuing fiscal year which shall
be utilized by DHH in formulating its budget request.
(2)In December, to revise the forecast for the ensuing fiscal year which shall be utilized
in the preparation of the executive budget recommendations by the state budget
office.
(3) In April, to revise the forecast for the ensuing fiscal year which shall be utilized by
the legislature in its adoption of a state budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
(4)In July, to discuss the forecast for the current fiscal year as compared to the current
year appropriation.
New law authorizes the subcommittee to review any aspects of the Medicaid program as
provided for in new law. Further authorizes any principal of the conference to request that
the subcommittee meet to discuss a specific issue. Requires the subcommittee to submit a
summary report to the conference of topics discussed and any actions taken.
Effective August 1, 2016.
(Amends R.S. 39:21.3(E)(2) and (3); adds R.S. 39:21.3(E)(4) and (5))