LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 15, 2023 TO: Honorable Sam Harless, Chair, House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select 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 Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB617, As Introduced : 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 toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2024$02025$02026$02027$02028$0All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromComm State Emer Comm Acct50072024($250,000)2025($250,000)2026($250,000)2027($250,000)2028($250,000) Fiscal AnalysisThe 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. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 15, 2023 TO: Honorable Sam Harless, Chair, House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select 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 Introduced TO: Honorable Sam Harless, Chair, House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select 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 Introduced Honorable Sam Harless, Chair, House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select Honorable Sam Harless, Chair, House Committee on Health Care Reform, Select Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB617 by Darby (Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas.), As Introduced HB617 by Darby (Relating to a pilot project to provide emergency telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in rural areas.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB617, As Introduced : an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB617, As Introduced : an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: 2024 $0 2025 $0 2026 $0 2027 $0 2028 $0 All Funds, Five-Year Impact: 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. 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. 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: b > td > 477 Commission on State Emergency Communications, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration 477 Commission on State Emergency Communications, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, NPe, LCO, GP JMc, NPe, LCO, GP