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| SPONSOR: | Lopez | DATE TYPED: | 02/09/00 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Statewide Traditional Family Health Education Program | SB | 261 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Taylor/ Dunbar | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY00 | FY01 | FY00 | FY01 | ||
| $ 300.0 | Rec | GF | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to
SOURCE
Human Services Department (HSD)
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
SB 261 provides for a $300.0 GF appropriation for expenditure in fiscal year 2001 for a statewide program to educate low-income families on traditional non-medical health care techniques, such as nutrition and home first aid, including the publication and the distribution of health hand books and first aid kits.
Significant Issues
According to HSD , if the funds are received in the Medical Assistance Division a 50% federal match is a possibility. The program would be limited to helping only Medicaid recipients. The objective of the program would be to lower Medicaid costs as recipients would become better informed in health matters.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill provides for $300.0 appropriation from the GF for expenditure in FY 01. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 01 shall revert to the general fund.
SB 261 does not indicate which division within the Human Services Department would administer the program. HSD reports that if the funding goes to Medical Assistance Division, the funds could be matched at 50% with federal dollars and thus increasing the amount to $600.0.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
HSD would contract with a community based agency that is familiar with health education.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
SB 261 can assist TANF recipients in their effort toward achieving self-sufficiency.
HSD does not provide health education services. That responsibility rests with the Department of Health or the Medicaid managed care organizations. HSD noted that if the intent is to provide health education to Medicaid recipients, with the objective of lowering health care costs, the funding should go to the Medical Assistance Division in order to obtain matching funds.
BT/BD:prr