STAND. COM. REP. 280

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 911

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 911 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve oral health in underserved areas by allowing qualified dentists holding temporary licenses to practice in safety net dental provider organizations.

Several individuals supported this measure. The Board of Dental Examiners and Hawaii Dental Association opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that underserved areas are in dire need of dental providers. Underserved areas commonly are populated with individuals covered by various Medicaid programs, which generally do not pay for basic dental services, and only cover dental emergencies.

Furthermore, it is not economically feasible for dentists to practice in these areas where their client-base primarily consists of Medicaid patients, since Medicaid reimbursements are frequently well below the actual cost of care. Additionally, there is confusion as to how certain community health centers are reimbursed, making it even more difficult to attract dentists.

 

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring dentists holding a temporary license to be reimbursed at the same rate as regular licensed dentists; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 911, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 911, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair