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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Steinborn
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/31/07
HB 720
SHORT TITLE
Transportation of Dona Ana County Patients
SB
ANALYST Propst
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$150.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates SB 584
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)
Human Services Department (HSD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 720 appropriates $150.0 to DFA to contract for services for nonemergency
transportation of Dona Ana County mental health patients to facilities not available in Dona Ana
County.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $150.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.
Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the
General Fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The Department of Health notes that Dona Ana County has an estimated population in 2004 was
pg_0002
House Bill 720 – Page
2
186,095. This was an increase of 6.53% from the 2000 census. (Dona Ana County –Population
Overview –
WWW.epodunk.com
). The County has four hospital or primary care facilities; 12
health care clinics, two community mental health centers and numerous social service agencies.
(Department of Health).
When individuals with emergency behavioral health problems require a crisis evaluation, the
Dona Ana Sheriff’s office is required to transport the individual.
The bill is unclear how the requested funds would be allocated.
DFA notes that the language contained in HB 720 does not specify a location where these
patients will be transported to and from. The services could range from picking up patients at
hospital, doctor's office, or a treatment facility. This could entail a complicated billing and
tracking process.
DFA reports that it would need to issue a request for proposal for prospective vendors.
HSD reports that there would be no fiscal implications for the Department. The Medicaid
program already covers this service for eligible recipients. Presumably the service would be
provided for those not eligible for Medicaid.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
DFA/LGD notes that it does not possess the expertise to provide oversight for such an activity or
program. The Department of Health would be a more suitable agency to administer this program
WEP/mt