HBA-MPM H.C.R. 202 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 202
By: Lewis, Ron
Public Health
4/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Doctors Hospital of Groves, Texas is a stand-alone facility operated by
Community Health Care Foundation, Inc.  The hospital serves residents of
Groves and treats persons from all over Southeast Texas who are in need of
medical care, including the uninsured and underinsured, charity care for
indigent persons and uncompensated care for those who are unable or
unwilling to pay for services and those who receive assistance from
Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children's Health Insurance Program. It is
estimated that in the year 2000, the hospital provided $2.2 million in
state-defined charity care and $2.3 in uncompensated care.  Although the
hospital is designated as an urban hospital, it serves a small community
whose population mirrors the population served by many rural hospitals that
receive a higher rate of reimbursement and more favorable treatment under
certain federal programs.  It is important that the hospital be given every
opportunity to safeguard its ability to provide health care to the City of
Groves and the Southeast Texas community.  House Concurrent Resolution 202
directs the Health and Human Services Commission to redesignate the Doctors
Hospital of Groves as a rural hospital. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution
does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Concurrent Resolution 202 directs the Health and Human Services
Commission to redesignate the Doctors Hospital of Groves from an urban
hospital to a rural hospital.