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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

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