Report Title:

Medicaid; Increase Dental Fees

 

Description:

Increases the reimbursement rate to dentists providing medicaid-covered dental services to unspecified percentage of the 75th percentile of the 1991 fee profile; makes adult dental services a mandatory coverage under medicaid; makes unspecified appropriations to the DHS for FY 2003 and 2004.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

938

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to reimbursement for medicaid covered dental services.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services are among the lowest in the nation. These fees have not been changed since 1990, when they were set at sixty per cent of the seventy-fifth percentile of the 1991 fee profile. This rate is less than the overhead costs to provide medicaid-covered dental services.

The legislature further finds that the participation rate for Hawaii dentists in the medicaid program is among the lowest in the nation and that this low rate is related to the low reimbursement rate for medicaid-covered dental services.

Unlike coverage for medical care, current law does not require medicaid coverage for dental services, although dental services are in fact covered under medicaid or QUEST. The legislature further finds that current law should be amended to include adult dental services as a required coverage.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Increase the reimbursement rate for medicaid-covered dental services to one that more fairly compensates dentists for care and encourages more dentists to participate as providers in the medicaid program, and to appropriate funds to cover the increase; and

(2) Make adult dental services a required coverage under medicaid.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§346-   Dental care coverage; reimbursement rate. (a) Beginning July 1, 2003, the department shall provide coverage for dental services rendered by licensed practitioners under chapters 447 and 448, for adults enrolled in the medicaid or QUEST programs.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2003, the reimbursement rate for dental services for adults under subsection (a) and for children shall be       per cent of the seventy-fifth percentile of the 1991 Hawaii medicaid fee profile."

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 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the medicaid program to cover the reimbursement rate increase provided for in section 2 of this Act.

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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