Report Title:

Dental Health

Description:

Appropriates funds to the DOH for community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations to assist and improve the dental health of QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3259

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DENTAL HEALTH.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that inadequate dental care is a serious matter and has been identified as one of the major health concerns for low-income adults and children, people with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured. These individuals continually face great challenges in accessing dental care services in an appropriate and timely manner. The lack of dental care for this population is profound and unacceptable.

The legislature further finds that federally qualified health centers are the appropriate and most efficient entity to establish community-based dental clinics statewide that will provide a continuum of dental care based on best practices for QUEST-eligible adults and children and disabled population.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the State's ability to address the dental-health crisis it faces regarding QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and uninsured by:

(1) Appropriating funds to the department of health to contract with federally qualified health centers to help the greatest number of individuals who need dental care and maximizing the potential for this assistance by minimizing administrative costs; and

(2) Allowing greater flexibility in the provision of this care by establishing community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for equipment and service delivery to establish community-based dental health clinics operated by federally qualified health centers or other community-based organizations to provide a continuum of dental care to QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured.

SECTION 3. The continuum of dental care should consist of but not be limited to:

(1) A lead primary care dentist who is trained by an accredited dental school in the treatment of individuals with disabilities;

(2) Faculty supervision from dentists from an accredited dental school providing appropriate sedation training; and

(3) Hospital-based care for anesthesia services.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.