Medicaid Updates
What's the issue?
Several states have proposed or adopted legislation that deals with how Medicaid patients receive dental care. See below for pertinent updates.
- Massachusetts introduces bill to examine Medicaid reimbursement to dental schools
- H.R. 98 would create a task force to study the impact of reimbursements to dental schools for care provided to MassHealth patients. MassHealth is Massachusetts' Medicaid program. If passed, the bill would require the task force to 1) identify and review all current state laws, regulations and administrative directives that relate to health care reimbursement; 2) identify financial and procedural steps that would best allow payment to Boston's teaching facilities through MassHealth; and 3) submit recommendations to establish legislative procedures that provide funding, regulation and grant reimbursement power to MassHealth for basic and restorative dental care to accredited Massachusetts dental schools.
- Utah bill passed by both chambers to restore dental benefits to seniors on Medicaid
- SB11 restores dental coverage for adults 65 and over on Medicaid. The state estimates that an additional 10,200 patients will gain coverage under the bill. The University of Utah Dental School agreed to pay the state's portion of the federal Medicaid rate. The bill has been sent to the governor's office.
- Hawaii senate passes bill to expand Medicaid coverage
- SB 467 passed the state Senate. The bill restores preventative adult dental benefits under Medicaid. Since 2009, Medicaid enrollees could only access emergency dental care.
Why is this important?
Increasing access to preventative dental care can reduce overall healthcare costs by lowering emergency room visits for dental issues. The Massachusetts bill could lead the way for other states to examine how dental schools receive reimbursement for Medicaid patients. As reported in the
July 2018 issue of the Advocacy Brief, the University of Iowa Dental College could no longer accept Medicaid patients due to low reimbursement rates.
Midlevel Updates
What's the issue?
Several states have proposed, adopted or defeated midlevel provider legislation. See below for pertinent updates.
- North Dakota rejects dental therapist bill
- On Tuesday, Feb. 12, in a vote of 31-62 legislators voted down a bill that would have allowed dental therapists to practice in the state.
- Massachusetts proposes dental therapist bill
- Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler and Rep. Kate Hogan introduced bills to permit dental therapists to be licensed. The bills would allow licensed dental therapists to perform procedures like oral health screenings and fillings. The bill has 16 cosponsors out of 40 senators and 69 cosponsors out of 160 representatives in the House.
- New Mexico passes dental therapy bill
- A bill to add dental therapists to the dental team passed the House of Representatives. The bill would limit the areas dental therapists are able to practice to underserved areas and places that serve native populations.
Why is this important?
As listed in
ASDA's C-2 policy, the association believes that only the dentist should perform the following functions: diagnosis and treatment planning, prescribing work authorizations, performing surgical/irreversible dental procedures and prescribing drugs and/or other medications.
Next Step:
Student loan repayment bill introduced in Florida
What's the issue?
On Feb. 5, Florida State Senator Ed Hooper introduced SB 716. The bill would allow dentists to qualify for up to $250,000 in student loan repayments by encouraging graduating dentists to practice in public health programs or in areas that are underserved.
The bill would also create a "Donated Dental Services Program" that would provide dental care to low-income, elderly or disabled people who cannot afford care but do not qualify for Medicaid.
On March 4, the Senate Health Policy Committee approved the bill.
Why is this important?
As listed in
ASDA's F-4 policy, the association supports initiatives that provide recent graduates with opportunities for student loan forgiveness and repayment options.
Next step:
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