Texas 2009 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB531 Enrolled / Fiscal Note

Filed 02/01/2025

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                    LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD    Austin, Texas      FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION            May 28, 2009      TO: Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate      FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board     IN RE:SB531 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to the billing coordination system for claims submitted for payment from the Medicaid program.), As Passed 2nd House   Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB531, As Passed 2nd House: a positive impact of $15,000,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. 

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 28, 2009





  TO: Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate      FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board     IN RE:SB531 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to the billing coordination system for claims submitted for payment from the Medicaid program.), As Passed 2nd House  

TO: Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB531 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to the billing coordination system for claims submitted for payment from the Medicaid program.), As Passed 2nd House

 Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate 

 Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate 

 John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

 John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

SB531 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to the billing coordination system for claims submitted for payment from the Medicaid program.), As Passed 2nd House

SB531 by Patrick, Dan (Relating to the billing coordination system for claims submitted for payment from the Medicaid program.), As Passed 2nd House

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB531, As Passed 2nd House: a positive impact of $15,000,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. 

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB531, As Passed 2nd House: a positive impact of $15,000,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:  Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds  2010 $7,500,000   2011 $7,500,000   2012 $7,500,000   2013 $7,500,000   2014 $7,500,000    


2010 $7,500,000
2011 $7,500,000
2012 $7,500,000
2013 $7,500,000
2014 $7,500,000

 All Funds, Five-Year Impact:  Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain fromMedicaid Program Income705  Probable (Cost) fromMedicaid Program Income705  Probable Savings fromGR Match For Medicaid758    2010 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2011 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2012 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2013 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2014 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   

  Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain fromMedicaid Program Income705  Probable (Cost) fromMedicaid Program Income705  Probable Savings fromGR Match For Medicaid758    2010 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2011 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2012 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2013 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000   2014 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000  


2010 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000
2011 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000
2012 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000
2013 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000
2014 $7,500,000 ($7,500,000) $7,500,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Section 531.02413, Government Code, to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to expand the Medicaid Billing Coordination System (BCS), if cost effective and feasible, and to process claims for all other health care services provided through the Medicaid program in the manner claims for acute care services are currently processed by the system. However, this would not apply if claims were being processed by an alternative billing coordination system prior to September 1, 2009.   The bill outlines requirements of third-party health insurers with regard to Medicaid enrollees and documents other administrative requirements related to Medicaid reclamation activities.   The bill would require HHSC to provide reimbursement under the state Medicaid program to a licensed pharmacist who is authorized to administer immunizations in accordance with rules adopted by the Board of Pharmacy and who administers an immunization to a Medicaid enrollee to the same extent a physician or other health care provider is reimbursed. 

The bill would amend Section 531.02413, Government Code, to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to expand the Medicaid Billing Coordination System (BCS), if cost effective and feasible, and to process claims for all other health care services provided through the Medicaid program in the manner claims for acute care services are currently processed by the system. However, this would not apply if claims were being processed by an alternative billing coordination system prior to September 1, 2009.

 

The bill outlines requirements of third-party health insurers with regard to Medicaid enrollees and documents other administrative requirements related to Medicaid reclamation activities.

 

The bill would require HHSC to provide reimbursement under the state Medicaid program to a licensed pharmacist who is authorized to administer immunizations in accordance with rules adopted by the Board of Pharmacy and who administers an immunization to a Medicaid enrollee to the same extent a physician or other health care provider is reimbursed. 

Methodology

HHSC assumes that the language referring to processing claims would exclude services provided under managed care, since managed care payments to providers are not processed through the Texas Medical Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) acute care claims system. A Medicaid BCS is already in place for other types of service delivery, including fee-for-service, primary care case management, and pharmacy claims. Therefore, HHSC assumes no significant fiscal impact.   The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) states that the agency is currently using an alternative BCS for the Home and Community-based Services program and the Texas Home Living Waiver program. Other long-term care Medicaid programs are currently processed by TMHP, but based on additional information obtained by DADS, TMHP would require significant system changes in order to change to a cost avoidance BCS. These costs would be approximately $2.5 million in FY 2010, $1.4 million in FY 2011 and $1.1 million in FY 2012-13.   Also, DADS estimates an increase in the operating costs of using a cost avoidance BCS, without a significant increase in third party recoveries. This is because most Medicaid recipients are not able to purchase Medicare supplemental insurance or long-term care insurance and thus do not have a third party that DADS could bill. Since the costs are projected to outweigh the potential recoveries, these actions are deemed by DADS to not be cost-effective. Therefore, DADS would not implement this provision of the bill and estimates no significant fiscal impact.   According to HHSC, states are required to aggressively pursue third-party sources of payment for Medicaid recipients. HHSC indicates that if states comply with the Deficit Reduction Act, they are permitted to retain 10 percent more of fraudulent claims than they can retain currently. HHSC estimates additional collections of $7.5 million each year of Medicaid Program Income; it is assumed this additional revenue would be expended for Medicaid client services, resulting in an equal savings to General Revenue Match for Medicaid.   HHSC assumes that the section of the bill on pharmacist reimbursement would require systems changes, training, provider education and coordination, as well as revision to the Medicaid State Plan. HHSC assumes that any cost associated with these changes could be absorbed within existing resources. It is assumed that if the Board of Pharmacy needed to adopt rules, the cost could be absorbed within existing resources.

HHSC assumes that the language referring to processing claims would exclude services provided under managed care, since managed care payments to providers are not processed through the Texas Medical Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) acute care claims system. A Medicaid BCS is already in place for other types of service delivery, including fee-for-service, primary care case management, and pharmacy claims. Therefore, HHSC assumes no significant fiscal impact.

 

The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) states that the agency is currently using an alternative BCS for the Home and Community-based Services program and the Texas Home Living Waiver program. Other long-term care Medicaid programs are currently processed by TMHP, but based on additional information obtained by DADS, TMHP would require significant system changes in order to change to a cost avoidance BCS. These costs would be approximately $2.5 million in FY 2010, $1.4 million in FY 2011 and $1.1 million in FY 2012-13.

 

Also, DADS estimates an increase in the operating costs of using a cost avoidance BCS, without a significant increase in third party recoveries. This is because most Medicaid recipients are not able to purchase Medicare supplemental insurance or long-term care insurance and thus do not have a third party that DADS could bill. Since the costs are projected to outweigh the potential recoveries, these actions are deemed by DADS to not be cost-effective. Therefore, DADS would not implement this provision of the bill and estimates no significant fiscal impact.

 

According to HHSC, states are required to aggressively pursue third-party sources of payment for Medicaid recipients. HHSC indicates that if states comply with the Deficit Reduction Act, they are permitted to retain 10 percent more of fraudulent claims than they can retain currently. HHSC estimates additional collections of $7.5 million each year of Medicaid Program Income; it is assumed this additional revenue would be expended for Medicaid client services, resulting in an equal savings to General Revenue Match for Medicaid.

 

HHSC assumes that the section of the bill on pharmacist reimbursement would require systems changes, training, provider education and coordination, as well as revision to the Medicaid State Plan. HHSC assumes that any cost associated with these changes could be absorbed within existing resources. It is assumed that if the Board of Pharmacy needed to adopt rules, the cost could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies: 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of

529 Health and Human Services Commission, 539 Aging and Disability Services, Department of

LBB Staff: JOB, CL, MB, LR

 JOB, CL, MB, LR