Report Title:

Appropriation; Medicaid Dental

Description:

Appropriates funds to restore basic dental services for adults covered by MedQUEST medical assistance programs. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

112

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

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 a person’s oral health is no less important than any other aspect of health. The legislature further finds that oral health and other health conditions often go hand in hand, and that 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, U. S. 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 legislature further finds that 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.

Dental services for indigent adults, especially those on the neighbor islands where there are disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, and MedQUEST enrollment, are far too limited to meet the needs of the population. As of February 1, 1996, basic dental services for adults covered by the Medicaid and QUEST medical assistance programs were discontinued. At the present time, only emergency dental services are covered for these clients. There are approximately 90,000 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.

Medicaid, a federally funded program, will provide 58.47 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 41.53 per cent. The total need for the program was determined to be $48,814,500. The federal government will provide $28,541,838 and the State's share will equal $20,272,662.

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

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $20,272,682 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and $20,272,682, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide basic dental services for adults covered by MedQUEST 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, 2005.