BURNET — A bill that would require counties to pay for physical and occupational therapy services for indigent health-care clients is getting a thumbs-down from the Burnet County Commissioners.
The legislation is House Bill 871 proposed by state Rep. Yvonne Davis of Dallas, which is being supported by the Texas Indigent Health Care Association, Burnet County Indigent Health Care Coordinator Carole Ellis told the commissioners.
The county’s indigent health-care budget covered about 12 patients last year, she added.
“We have not covered occupational therapy services,” Ellis said. “It is not a big (budget) item.”
The county already pays their physical therapy bills at 14 percent of the total hospital bill, she added.
Health experts view both physical and occupational therapy as “preventive measures” which are less expensive than surgery, she said.
However, County Judge Donna Klaeger and the commissioners are reluctant to add new mandatory services to indigent health care until lawmakers balance the state budget, which has a projected deficit of $15 billion-$27 billion.
“I really want to see what happens (in the Legislature) with indigent health care,” Klaeger said.
Ellis received instructions to continue funding physical therapy services on an optional basis. She also declined to send TICHA a letter of support from the commissioners for the Davis bill.
“I would feel much more comfortable doing it the way we are now (funding physical therapy as an option) instead of mandating it,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Hibler said.
“I do not think you should change any way (how) you are doing business now,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter told Ellis.
The commissioners allocate 6 percent or more than $800,000 for indigent health care from the county budget each year. Generally, Burnet County spends about $300,000 annually on the program and holds the balance in the county treasury, officials have said.
During previous legislative sessions, lawmakers have proposed the state should sweep unused county funds into state coffers for indigent health care.
However, such proposals have gone nowhere, according to observers.
Nevertheless, current state law stipulates lawmakers can still compel county residents to set aside 8 percent or more than $1 million of their county taxes for indigent health care during upcoming months, Klaeger said.
Indeed, lawmakers have proposed reduction of state funding for the program up to 58 percent during the current session, Klaeger added.
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