Report Title:

QUEST; Restore Adult Dental Services

Description:

Restores basic dental services for adults covered by QUEST medical assistance programs on a fee-for-service basis. Appropriates $    in FY 2003-2004 and $       in FY 2004-2005.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

517

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to human services.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that oral health is no less important than any other aspect of a person's health. Oral health and other health conditions often go hand in hand. Poor oral health frequently contributes to other serious diseases. As a result, dentists are often the first to recognize symptoms of disease otherwise undetected by physicians. According to the Office of Public Health and Science, United States Department of Health and Human Services, dentists commonly are the first to identify and address the following diseases:

    1. Viral diseases such as herpes infections, mononucleosis, herpangina, hand-foot-mouth disease, and HIV infection;
    2. Oral cancer;
    3. Leukemia;
    4. Diabetes;
    5. Heart disease;
    6. Kidney disease;
    7. Anemia;
    8. Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders;
    9. Adrenal gland disorders; and
    10. Inflammatory bowel diseases.

Poor oral health contributes to poor overall health when decayed teeth result in improper nutrition. Poor oral health also limits employment and social opportunities when decayed and missing teeth affect personal appearance.

The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, the use of alcohol and tobacco, and the consumption of both prescription and illicit drugs often affect oral health and underscore the need for adults to have access to regular oral health services.

The legislature further finds that dental services for indigent adults are far too limited to meet existing needs, especially of those adults on the neighbor islands, where there are disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, and QUEST enrollment. As of February 1, 1996, basic dental services for adults covered by the medicaid and QUEST medical assistance programs were discontinued. At present, only emergency dental services are covered for these clients. There are approximately 85,400 adults covered by medicaid and the QUEST medical assistance program.

The legislature further finds that the department of health and some community health centers provide dental services for adults, but due to budgetary constraints, services are extremely limited, especially on neighbor islands. The result of these service limitations is that indigent adults, even if covered by medicaid or QUEST, have no access to basic dental care.

The legislature further finds that medicaid, a federally funded program, will provide 58.77 per cent of funds necessary for basic dental services for adult clients of the medicaid and QUEST medical assistance programs. The State's share of the cost for these services is just 41.23 per cent.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to provide basic dental services for covered adults enrolled in QUEST programs.

SECTION 2. 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 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide basic dental services for adults covered by QUEST programs on a fee-for-service basis.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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