HB325 SD2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	325
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DENTAL CARE.

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

SECTION 1. In 2006, the legislature appropriated funds to the department of human services to restore specific preventive and restorative dental services for eligible persons twenty-one years of age or older under the State's medicaid and QUEST programs. Previously, dental coverage for eligible adults was limited to dental emergencies. According to a recent department of health report, each eligible adult can receive specific preventive and restorative services, including dentures, equivalent to $500. However, this does not include coverage for endodontic care, root canals, crowns, elective procedures, or periodontal surgery. Also, partial and full dentures generally cost more than $500.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Expand coverage under medicaid and QUEST to include comprehensive dental care coverage for eligible persons twenty-one years of age or older and to appropriate funds to provide the additional coverage;

(2) Requires the department of health to establish a one-year pilot program to gather information on hospital dentistry for the developmentally disabled in the county of Hawaii on usage, feasibility, and costs for statewide application and appropriate funds; and

(3) Establish a task force comprised of various stakeholders to assist in developing ways to recruit and retain dental care practitioners, licensed under chapter 447 or 448, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to support the provision of the expanded coverage.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346‑ Dental care coverage. The department shall provide comprehensive coverage to medicaid and QUEST recipients for dental care administered by licensed practitioners under chapter 447 or 448.

The department shall administer this benefit in a manner that meets federal requirements that are a condition of the receipt of federal funds by the State.

For purposes of this section, "comprehensive coverage" means the dental benefit as defined in the Hawaii state plan for medicaid."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to expand coverage under medicaid and QUEST to include comprehensive dental care coverage for persons twenty-one years of age or older.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The department of health shall establish a one-year pilot program in the county of Hawaii under which the department shall gather information on hospital dentistry for the developmentally disabled community in the county of Hawaii in order to determine usage, feasibility, and costs issues for application on a statewide basis.

The department shall submit an interim report to the legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009 and a final report not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the pilot program to be established by the department of health as provided in section 4.

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

SECTION 6. (a) The department of human services shall convene a task force composed of various stakeholders, including the department of health, the Hawaii Dental Association, interested dental care practitioners, at least one representative of a federally qualified health center, and advocates to assist in developing ways to recruit and retain dental care practitioners, licensed under chapter 447 or 448, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to support the provision of the expanded coverage under this Act.

(b) The task force shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session. The task force shall cease to exist upon the adjournment sine die of the 2008 regular session.

SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008; provided that section 6 shall take effect upon its approval.