HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
92 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
||
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
REQUESTING AND ENCOURAGING THE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS TO REPRIMAND ANY DENTIST WHO REFUSES TO ACCEPT QUEST/MEDICAID PATIENTS.
WHEREAS, Hawaii appears to have a favorable dentist-to population ratio compared to other states; and
WHEREAS, there is a critical shortage of dental care professionals who are willing to serve patients in the State who have low incomes or lack private dental insurance; and
WHEREAS, the State's QUEST/Medicaid program was designed to assist those who are less fortunate and who cannot afford private dental and health insurance; and
WHEREAS, the refusal by some licensed dentists to provide dental services to patients covered under governmentally sponsored medical insurance programs, such as the Quest/Medicaid program, defeats the purposes of those programs; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Board of Dental Examiners is encouraged and requested to reprimand any dentist licensed in this State who refuses to accept a patient who is eligible for or is provided medical assistance under Medicaid or under the QUEST medical plans administered by the Department of Human Services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Dental Examiners and the Director of Human Services.
OFFERED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
Report Title:
Board of Dental Examiners; Reprimand Refusal to Accept QUEST/Medicaid patients.