Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 106
03/18/2010 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB199 | |
| HB260 | |
| SB13 | |
| HB392 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 199 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 392 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 199-MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DENTURES
3:07:49 PM
CO-CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 199, "An Act providing for a two-year funding
cycle for medical assistance coverage for dentures."
SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, Alaska State Legislature, referred to an
opinion article that he had written for the "Senior Voice"
[Included in the committee packets.] in which he described an
incident which had precipitated this legislation. He related
that an elderly man, with no teeth, had come to Senator Ellis'
Anchorage office after he had visited the Medicaid Adult Dental
office. The man relayed that he had requested a set of
dentures, but had been told that he could only receive either a
set of upper or lower dentures in the same fiscal year. Senator
Ellis emphasized that Medicaid Adult Dental was a great program,
but that this aspect was not a practical, humane approach. He
suggested an improvement to the program which would allow
patients to receive a full set of dentures in the same fiscal
year, along with preventative dental care. He pointed out that
there would not be an increase to cost and he anticipated some
future cost savings. He cited the many supporters of SB 199,
which included the Alaska Dental Society, AARP, and the Public
Health Association.
3:12:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked why the fiscal note eventually
dropped to zero.
3:13:03 PM
MAX HENSLEY, Staff to Senator Ellis, Alaska State Legislature,
explained that the original two year amount was forward funded
to this year, and then, as the beneficiaries utilized the
change, benefit costs would return to the regular pattern.
3:14:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked why this would become a zero
fiscal note.
MR. HENSLEY explained that the same level of benefits would be
paid, but would be in a single year, instead of two consecutive
years. He explained that once this was implemented and the cost
shift was absorbed, there would no longer be the second year
benefit as people would have received a full set of dentures in
one fiscal year.
3:15:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to clarify if the bill was all
forward looking, and would not have any application to a prior
year.
MR. HENSLEY replied that this was the intention of the bill, but
that Department of Health and Social Services would need to
respond.
3:16:43 PM
DAVE LOGAN, Dentist, Alaska Dental Society, stated that SB 199
solved a problem. He cited an example of a dental treatment
which had required removal of all the teeth, but would not allow
for replacement of both the upper and lower dentures. He opined
that SB 199 would also save money for the state, as there would
be fewer emergency room visits for dental service.
3:19:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON asked if Medicaid paid for the entire
replacement of dentures.
DR. LOGAN said that the Medicaid reimbursement was very close.
3:20:29 PM
JON SHERWOOD, Medicaid Special Projects, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS),
stated that Department of Health and Social Services liked the
concept of SB 199. He agreed that there would be an increase of
expenditure during the first two years.
3:22:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, referring to page 2 of SB 199 and noting
that a person was already eligible for services, asked for a
clarification about the eligibility for additional benefits
during a two year period, and when it would commence.
MR. SHERWOOD replied that DHSS envisioned it for the year the
denture was received and the subsequent fiscal year.
3:24:04 PM
CO-CHAIR HERRON asked if there were any precedents for this.
MR. SHERWOOD offered his belief that this was the first time for
imposition of a two year limit, and that this was the only
service for a fixed dollar limit, which was unique for Alaska
Medicaid.
3:25:09 PM
CO-CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
3:25:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON stated support for SB 199 and offered a
story of a 94 year old constituent whom this would affect.
3:25:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON moved to report SB 199 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SB 199 was reported from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
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