Report Title:

Medical Assistance; Adult Dental Care

Description:

Expands coverage under the State's medicaid and QUEST programs to include comprehensive dental care for adults and appropriates funds to provide the additional coverage.  (SD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	242
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

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, 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 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.

     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 chapters 447 and 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 2007-2008, and the same sum, 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.

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

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.