FISCAL NOTE



FUND(S):

0525 - Consolidated Medical Services Fund

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


This bill shall provide matching funds up to $2,000, dollar for dollar each calendar year, for income distributed to each autistic minor from trusts created by the minor's now deceased parents, for the care of said minor. As written, the Department of Health and Human Resources (Department) cannot provide a fiscal impact. There is no current mechanism in place to quantify the number of minors who would meet the eligibility requirements contained in this bill. Therefore we were unable to estimate a cost for the proposed legislation.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2010
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 0 0
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):






Memorandum


According to the WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University, 517 reporting forms for new ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnoses in WV have been received since the opening of the autism registry. If all 517 currently meet the criteria of this bill, the total cost would be $1,034,000 (517 minors @ $2,000 annually). Additionally, based on the 2007 census, there were approximately 387,775 individuals 18 years or younger living in the state of West Virginia. The current prevalence ratio for a child with ASD is being reported at 1:150. Through statistical extrapolation, we estimate that approximately 2,585 individuals 18 years or younger in the state of WV have ASD. If all 2,585 minors meet the criteria of this bill, the possible annual cost to would be $5,170,000. Additionally the $2,000 could impact Medicaid eligibility for recipients of the funds.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Martha Yeager Walker
    Email Address: dhhrbudgetoffice@wv.gov