Report Title:
Dental Health
Description:
Appropriates funds to the DOH for community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations to assist and improve the dental health of QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured. (HB3259 CD1)
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
3259 |
|
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
C.D. 1 |
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DENTAL HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that inadequate dental care is a serious matter and has been identified as one of the major health concerns for low-income adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured. These individuals continually face great challenges in accessing dental care services in an appropriate and timely manner. The lack of dental care for this population is profound and unacceptable.
The legislature further finds that federally qualified health centers are the appropriate and most efficient entities to establish community-based dental clinics statewide that will provide a continuum of dental care based on best practices for QUEST-eligible adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.
The purpose of this Act is to increase the State's ability to address the dental-health crisis it faces regarding QUEST-eligible adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured by:
(1) Appropriating funds for the department of health to contract with federally qualified health centers to help the greatest number of individuals who need dental care and maximizing the potential for this assistance by minimizing administrative costs; and
(2) Allowing greater flexibility in the provision of this care by establishing community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $90,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for:
(1) A school of dentistry accredited by the American Dental Association to perform an assessment of the status of the continuum of dental care; and
(2) Equipment and service delivery to establish community-based dental health clinics operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations to provide a continuum of dental care to QUEST-eligible adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.
SECTION 3. The continuum of dental care shall consist of but not be limited to:
(1) A lead primary care dentist who is trained by an accredited dental school in the treatment of underserved populations and individuals with disabilities;
(2) Faculty supervision from dentists of an accredited dental school to provide appropriate sedation training; and
(3) Hospital-based care for anesthesia services.
SECTION 4. The sum 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, 2006.