HBA-NRS H.B. 2287 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2287 By: Edwards Public Health 3/28/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hospitals receive compensation for services rendered under the medical assistance program through a reimbursement fund. Attending physicians at such hospitals who provide medical services to patients covered for those services under the medical assistance program are offered little to no compensation for providing medical services and may be hesitant to treat such patients. House Bill 2287 authorizes a hospital to share with its attending physicians reimbursement for services provided to patients under the medical assistance program. 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 prescribe a method by which a hospital that receives reimbursement for services provided to a patient under the medical assistance program may pay a portion of that reimbursement to the patient's attending physician. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.