Provides funding for basic dental services for uninsured Hawaii residents and adults covered by Medicaid or QUEST on a fee-for-service basis. Provides funding for technology, acquisition, expansion, or upgrading for facilities and equipment at federally qualified health centers that provide dental services.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a person's oral health is no less important than any other aspect of health.

Oral health and other health conditions often go hand in hand, and poor oral health frequently contributes to other serious diseases. As a result, dentists are often the first to recognize symptoms of disease otherwise undetected by physicians. According to the Office of Public Health and Science of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, dentists commonly are the first to identify and address the following diseases:

The legislature further finds that poor oral health contributes to poor overall health when decayed teeth result in improper nutrition. Poor oral health also limits employment and social opportunities when decayed and missing teeth affect personal appearance.

The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, the use of alcohol and tobacco, and the consumption of both prescription and illicit drugs often affect oral health and underscore the need for adults to have access to regular oral health services. However, basic dental services for indigent adults, especially those on the neighbor islands where there are disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, and Hawaii QUEST enrollment, are far too limited to meet the needs of the population.

As of February 1, 1996, basic dental services for adults covered by the Medicaid and Hawaii QUEST medical assistance programs were discontinued. At the present time, only emergency dental services are covered for these clients. There are approximately 90,000 adults covered by Medicaid and the Hawaii QUEST medical assistance program.

The legislature further finds that federally qualified health centers specialize in providing health services to underserved communities and over 75,000 low-income state residents. Dental services provided by these federally qualified health centers are presently limited, especially on the neighbor islands, due to budgetary constraints. The result of these service limitations is that indigent adults, even if covered by Medicaid or Hawaii QUEST, have no access to basic dental care.

The purpose of this Act is to expand the capacity of federally qualified health centers to provide basic dental services for uninsured Hawaii residents and adults covered by Medicaid or QUEST, which covers only emergency dental procedures.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide basic dental services for uninsured Hawaii residents and adults covered by Medicaid or QUEST on a fee-for-service basis.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to pay for technology, acquisition, expansion, or upgrading for facilities and equipment necessary to provide dental services at federally qualified health centers.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.