36-2907.07. Tobacco tax program evaluations

A. Subject to the availability of monies, the administration may enter into an intergovernmental agreement pursuant to title 11, chapter 7, article 3 to contract with the auditor general to conduct or cause to conduct program evaluations of programs that both receive tobacco tax monies pursuant to section 36-774 and are administered by the department of health services.

B. If the administration contracts for the annual program evaluations:

1. The auditor general shall establish a schedule for periodic reviews of the programs. The auditor general shall notify the joint legislative audit committee of the schedule for the periodic reviews of the programs. The joint legislative audit committee shall review the schedule and may approve or modify it.

2. The evaluations shall examine the effectiveness of the programs, the organizational structure of the programs and the efficiency of the programs.

3. The evaluations shall include but are not limited to the following utilization information:

(a) The level and scope of services being offered.

(b) The type of services being used.

(c) The frequency of services being used.

(d) The personal characteristics of the program participants who receive services.

(e) The demographic characteristics of the program participants who receive services.

4. The evaluations shall include but are not limited to:

(a) Information on the number of the program participants.

(b) Information on program contractors and program service providers.

(c) Information on program revenues and expenditures.

(d) Information on the average cost for each program participant receiving services and information on the average cost of providing each service.

(e) Information on the administrative costs to operate each program.

(f) An evaluation of the methods used by the department of health services for selecting eligible contractors.

(g) An estimate of the benefits and effects of providing health care services to persons who cannot afford those services or for whom there would otherwise be no coverage.

5. The department of health services shall provide data necessary to complete the evaluations.

6. The auditor general shall submit an annual report to the director of the joint legislative budget committee regarding the evaluations no later than November 1 of each year.