H.B. No. 3305 aims to create a County Health Care Provider Participation Program in certain Texas counties that lack a hospital district, specifically targeting those with populations of one million or more or bordering counties with significant populations. The bill introduces Chapter 292F to the Health and Safety Code, defining terms such as "institutional health care provider" and "paying provider." It allows counties to collect mandatory payments from these providers to establish a local provider participation fund, which will support various health care-related expenses, including Medicaid payments and administrative costs. The bill mandates public hearings by the commissioners court regarding these payments, ensuring community involvement and transparency.

Additionally, the bill sets a cap on the annual revenue from mandatory payments for administrative expenses at $150,000, plus costs related to collateralization of deposits, and prohibits providers from passing these payments onto patients as surcharges. It outlines the assessment and collection process, allowing counties to charge a collection fee that must go into the county general fund. The program can only be implemented if specific waiver programs or reimbursement enhancements are available, and the payments are strictly for Medicaid-related expenses. The authority to operate this program will expire on December 31, 2030, unless extended, and the act will take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 300.0155 (Health and Safety Code 300)
House Committee Report: (Health and Safety Code 300)
Engrossed: (Health and Safety Code 300)