This Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) newsletter contains information and updates about the Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-Income Seniors (Senior Dental Program).
Program Overview
The Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-Income Seniors (Senior Dental Program) grants funds to agencies to provide low-cost dental care to low-income seniors, age 60 and over, who are not enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) and do not have dental insurance. Grantees determine if a senior qualifies to receive services under the program.
Dental Advisory Committee
The Dental Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting on July 13, 2021 has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 19, 2021 at 2 p.m.
This will be a virtual meeting. Specifics will be emailed to all stakeholders and will be on the Department's website prior to the meeting. If there are any items stakeholders would like to discuss, please contact the Department and we will ensure it is added to the agenda.
Medical Services Board
The Dental Advisory Committee (DAC) made recommendations to take to the Medical Services Board (MSB). Recommendations include the addition of two new procedures and updates to the rules to include the senior population enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPs) due to their inability to opt out of dental.
The two new procedures added were:
D1354 - Interim caries arresting medicament application - per tooth.
D1355 - Caries preventive medicament application - per tooth.
The MSB voted and adopted the change to include seniors on MAPs and to add both procedures into the current procedure fee schedule.
Grantees
The Senior Dental Program has a total of 27 grantees throughout Colorado for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22. The Department wants to thank all of the grantees for their continued support of our Colorado seniors and their much-needed dental health care.
Senior Dental Grant Amount for FY2021-22
The reduction of the $1 million in the FY2020-21 Long Bill was reinstated for FY2021-22. The amount that the Senior Dental Program will be allocating out to grantees in FY2021-22 is $3,962,510.
Annual Reports
The FY2020-21 Annual Reports are due from grantees on Aug. 27, 2021 and the Department's Annual Report is due to Legislation on Nov. 1, 2020. The data from the grantee Annual Reports will be discussed at the next scheduled DAC meeting.
