REPORT TITLE:
Dental services


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds to provide basic dental services for indigent
adults. (SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2156
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR BASIC DENTAL SERVICES FOR ADULTS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that access to basic
 
 2 dental services is important to a person's overall health and
 
 3 well-being.  Early treatment of dental problems may also prevent
 
 4 serious health complications in the future.      
 
 5      In 1996, basic dental services for adults enrolled in
 
 6 Medicaid and QUEST programs were terminated.  Since 1996,  only
 
 7 emergency dental services have been covered by these programs.
 
 8 Many low-income adults in these programs are unable to pay out-
 
 9 of-pocket expenses for basic dental services, such as filling
 
10 cavities or teeth cleaning.  Therefore, these individuals elect
 
11 not to seek these needed services and often suffer serious health
 
12 consequences.  The legislature acknowledges that there are many
 
13 indigent adults who do not qualify for either medicaid or QUEST
 
14 benefits and who are also in need of basic dental care services.    
 
15      Good dental health increases pride and self-esteem, which is
 
16 essential for those who are making a transition from welfare to
 
17 work.  For those on welfare, dental care has been identified as
 
18 an essential need and factor in their ability or inability to
 
19 secure employment.  Therefore, restoring basic dental services
 

 
Page 2                                                     2156
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 for indigent adults is in line with current welfare reform.  The
 
 2 legislature believes that the department of human services should
 
 3 reinstate the basic dental services for adults in the State's
 
 4 Medicaid and QUEST programs as soon as possible, and has provided
 
 5 an appropriation for this purpose.  The legislature also
 
 6 encourages the department of human services to work with the
 
 7 United States Department of Health and Human Services to
 
 8 incorporate these services under the current state budget ceiling
 
 9 and under the new waiver renewal process.
 
10      The legislature further finds that enhancing the capacity in
 
11 areas lacking in dental services for indigent adults, supporting
 
12 the ability of community-based health centers, and contracting
 
13 with other community dental services providers are a cost-
 
14 effective and rational approach to providing basic dental
 
15 services to the target populations.
 
16      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the
 
17 department of health and the department of human services to
 
18 provide basic dental services statewide to indigent adults and
 
19 other target populations.
 
20      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
21 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof
 
22 as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001, for start-up costs
 
23 and dental services for indigent adults.
 

 
Page 3                                                     2156
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
 2 health for the purposes of this Act.
 
 3      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 4 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof
 
 5 as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001, to reinstate basic
 
 6 dental services for adults in the State's Medicaid and QUEST
 
 7 programs.
 
 8      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
 9 human services for the purposes of this Act.
 
10      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.