Bill Caption

Relating to telemedicine medical, telehealth, and home telemonitoring services under Medicaid.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 1063, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($15,193,142) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The agency is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.

Bill Analysis

HB 1063 would require the Health & Human Services Commission to provide reimbursements for home tele-monitoring services for certain pediatric patients under Medicaid. This would include patients who are being concurrently treated by at least three medical specialists, who are diagnosed with end-stage solid organ disease, who have received an organ transplant, or who require mechanical ventilation. The bill would also repeal the sunset provision for Medicaid reimbursement of tele-monitoring health services.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action remains neutral on HB 1063 as it neither advances nor hinders any of our liberty principles. Although this bill includes a significant fiscal note, we assume that costs associated with the the expansion of telemonitoring service will be offset by lower use of other medical services.