HBA-NRS H.B. 2287 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2287 By: Edwards Public Health 7/10/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hospitals receive compensation for services rendered under Medicaid through a reimbursement fund. Attending physicians at such hospitals who provide medical services to patients covered for those services under Medicaid may be offered little to no compensation and may be hesitant to treat such patients. House Bill 2287 authorizes a disproportionate share hospital to contract with physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients based on the hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Sec. 531.055, Government Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2287 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission by rule to provide a method by which a hospital designated as a disproportionate share hospital may contract with physicians to provide medical services to indigent patients based on the hospital's indigent care eligibility criteria. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.