Bill: HB 2082, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Public Health

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Neutral Positive Neutral

Author(s)

Jodie Laubenberg

Bill Caption

Relating to developing a program to provide telemedicine medical services to certain children.

Fiscal Notes

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time because the scope of the telemedicine program would require waiver approval from and be determined by negotiations with the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

The bill would  amend Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code by requiring the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a program to provide home telemedicine medical services to pediatric patients with chronic or complex medical needs who are recipients of medical assistance and who:

  1. are being concurrently treated by at least three medical specialists; 
  2. are medically dependent on technology;
  3. are diagnosed with end-stage solid organ disease; or
  4. require medical ventilation.

HHSC would be required to submit a report to the legislature on the outcomes of the program no later than January 1, 2019. The report must evaluate clinical outcomes and must include the program's success in reducing emergency department visits and the program's impact on medical costs. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Proponents of telemedicine services assert that such communication saves time and money for both the doctor and the patient, allows doctors to easily keep track of a patient's progress and condition, and provides patients and their families a cheaper alternative to expensive face-to-face visits. The proponents further assert that the technology is particularly helpful for children with complex medical conditions. 

Increasing access to care through technological advancement while saving taxpayers' money promotes our limited government principle. We support HB 2082.

For an extensive and in-depth policy analysis of this bill, interested parties may wish to read the report provided by the Texas Public Policy Foundation in support of this legislation. Click here to view the report by TPPF's John Davidson


Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 08:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb2082?print_view=true