Texas House Bill HB392

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/9/11
• Introduced: 12/8/10
• Refer: 2/16/11
• Report Pass: 5/9/11

Caption

Relating to a county's eligibility to receive state assistance for health care expenditures that exceed eight percent of the county's general revenue levy for the year.

Impact

The implementation of HB392 is expected to provide significant financial relief to counties by ensuring that a larger portion of their healthcare expenditures is reimbursed by state funds. This would particularly benefit counties with high healthcare costs relative to their revenue, thereby allowing them to maintain and possibly expand healthcare services for their residents. Moreover, with the state agreeing to fund at least 90% of the healthcare services for eligible residents beyond the eight percent threshold, counties can focus more resources on public health initiatives without the immediate threat of fiscal constraints.

Summary

House Bill 392 addresses the eligibility criteria for counties to receive state assistance when their healthcare expenditures exceed eight percent of the county's general revenue levy within a fiscal year. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to allow counties to include Medicaid expenditures as part of the calculation of their total healthcare spending. This change aims to relieve some financial burdens on counties that are struggling to meet healthcare needs, especially for low-income residents who rely on Medicaid services for their healthcare.

Contention

While the bill aims to enhance funding and support for healthcare, it may also lead to some contention regarding the sustainability of these state funds in the long run. Critics may argue that relying heavily on state assistance could lead to increased dependency among counties and question whether the state budget will accommodate this increased healthcare spending consistently. Additionally, there may be concerns from stakeholders about whether the distribution of funds and the definition of 'eligible residents' will fairly address the diverse healthcare needs of different counties.