HEPATITIS C PREVENTION & CONTROL H.B. 5015 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5015 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Roger Kahn
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:
-- Create the Hepatitis C Advisory Task Force within the Department of Community Health (DCH, and require the Task Force to be abolished on June 30, 2010..
-- Require the Michigan Health Initiative Information Clearinghouse to maintain and provide information on the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
-- Require the DCH to spend money in the Michigan Health Initiative Fund on HCV public awareness programs.
-- Require the DCH to spend money from the Fund, if available, to provide HCV testing to high-risk individuals without health insurance.
-- Repeal sections of the Code creating the Risk Reduction and AIDS Policy Commission.
The Task Force would have to do all of the following:
-- Advise the Governor and the Legislature on policies regarding hepatitis C and risk reduction; and report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on major risk factors and preventable diseases or conditions, including hepatitis C.
-- Make recommendations to the DCH regarding the allocation of money, if available, from the Michigan Health Initiative Fund or any other source.
-- Review and identify potential additional funding mechanisms and sources to cover the costs of outreach, awareness, available treatment options, and testing for HCV.
-- Make recommendations to the DCH regarding HVC public awareness and education efforts.
MCL 333.5901 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
Creation of the Hepatitis C Advisory Task Force would lead to a moderate, indeterminate increase in administrative cost to the Department of Community Health. The Department would have to provide some staff support to the Task Force and provide per diem payments and reimbursement of expenses to Task Force members.
The bill would expand the required distribution of Michigan Health Initiative (MHI) funding to include hepatitis C education and testing services (contingent upon the availability of funding). The General Sales Tax Act mandates that the Department not spend more than $12.0 million in MHI funds each fiscal year. The FY 2005-06, DCH appropriation includes $10.1 million in MHI funds for various public health programs. The addition of hepatitis C services, as proposed by the bill, would likely increase the use of MHI funds to the $12.0 million ceiling.
Date Completed: 6-2-06 Fiscal Analyst: David Fosdick
floor\hb5015 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. 5015/0506