Tobacco Settlement Funds are Received by NCHD

Source from:  sweetwaterreporter.com Written by Ron Howell Saturday, 19 April 2008 04/21/2008

The Nolan County Hospital District is among 135 hospital districts in Texas which on Wednes-day received money distributed by the state comptroller's office from the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account. The hospital district received a distribution of $83,394 that will help recover its costs for indigent health care provided during 2007. The money was also distributed to two cities and 159 counties throughout the state. According to the state comptroller's office, the local hospital district has unreimbursed health care expenditures for 2007 of slightly under $1.9 million. Texas comptroller Su-san Combs said the state this year is sending 12 percent more money to communities responsible for providing indigent care. According to Combs, the money comes from the state's settlement with tobacco companies and will help communities offset the costs of providing medical care for those who cannot pay. The Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account, established after the state settled a lawsuit against tobacco companies, had a balance of $2.4 billion as of Dec. 31, 2007. The comptroller manages and oversees the fund, with the guidance of the 11-member Tobacco Settlement Permanent Trust Account Investment Advisory Committee. This year's distribution to local entities increased by about $9.6 million over last year's distribution. Since the first distribution of funds in April 2001, local entities have received nearly $430 million from the trust fund. Cities, counties and hospital districts receive annual distributions of tobacco settlement money, based upon the amount of unreimbursed indigent health care they report to the Texas Department of State Health Services. A list of cities, counties and hospital districts receiving tobacco settlement funds this year is available on the Texas Department of State Health Services Web site at www.dshs.state.tx.us/tobaccosettlement. Enditem