00                      CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 79(HES)                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to coverage for adult dental services under Medicaid; and providing                                    
02 for an effective date."                                                                                                 
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                         
05 to read:                                                                                                                
06       PURPOSE;  INTENT.  (a)  The purpose of this Act is to increase adult dental care                                  
07 services for an eligible recipient of Medicaid under AS 47.07 to ensure that services critical to                       
08 a recipient are implemented first, while controlling the overall growth of the costs of the                             
09 increase in services.                                                                                                   
10       (b)  It is the intent of the legislature that the Department of Health and Social Services                        
11 implement the increase in adult dental care services authorized by this Act through the                                 
12 adoption of regulations consistent with the department's obligation to contain the costs of the                         
13 increased services in order to provide the services within appropriation limits.  It is further the                     
14 intent of the legislature that the Department of Health and Social Services implement                                   

01 mechanisms to contain costs, which may include establishing a maximum amount of benefits                                
02 for each eligible recipient in a fiscal year for the services and specifying the scope of the                           
03 services.                                                                                                               
04    * Sec. 2.  AS 47.07 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
05            Sec. 47.07.067.  Payment for adult dental services.  (a)  The department shall                             
06       pay for adult dental services provided under AS 47.07.030(b) and under regulations                                
07       adopted by the commissioner in conformity with applicable federal requirements and                                
08       this chapter.  Regulations adopted under this section may include the following:                                  
09                 (1)  a maximum amount of benefits for adult dental services for each                                    
10       eligible recipient in a fiscal year; this paragraph does not apply to minimum treatment                           
11       for the immediate relief of pain and acute infection provided by a licensed dentist; and                          
12                 (2)  specification of the scope of adult dental services.                                               
13            (b)  As used in this section, "minimum treatment" means the application or                                   
14       prescription of a medication or material deemed necessary by the dentist for the                                  
15       palliative treatment of pain or for the reduction of the spread of infection.                                     
16    * Sec. 3.  AS 47.07.900(1) is repealed.                                                                            
17    * Sec. 4.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
18 read:                                                                                                                   
19       TRANSITION:  REGULATIONS.  The Department of Health and Social Services                                           
20 may proceed to adopt regulations necessary to implement the changes made by this Act.  The                              
21 regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before the                               
22 effective date of the statutory changes.                                                                                
23    * Sec. 5.  Section 4 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).                                   
24    * Sec. 6.  Except as provided in sec. 5 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2005.