00                       CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 105(FIN)                                                                    
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 minimum treatment and for preventative and restorative adult dental services                              
07       provided under AS 47.07.030(b) and under regulations adopted by the commissioner                                  
08       in conformity with applicable federal requirements and this chapter. Regulations                                  
09       adopted under this section must include the following:                                                            
10                 (1)  a maximum amount of benefits for preventative and restorative                                      
11       adult dental services of $1,150 for each eligible recipient in a fiscal year; and                                 
12                 (2)  specification of the scope of coverage for preventative and                                        
13       restorative adult dental services.                                                                                
14            (b)  As used in this section, "minimum treatment" means the application or                                   
15       prescription of a medication or material deemed necessary by a licensed dentist for the                           
16       immediate relief of pain or to reduce the spread of infection.                                                    
17    * Sec. 3. AS 47.07.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                               
18                 (20)  "adult dental services" means minimum treatment for the                                           
19       immediate relief of pain and acute infection provided by a licensed dentist.                                      
20    * Sec. 4. AS 47.07.900(1) is repealed.                                                                             
21    * Sec. 5. AS 47.07.067, as added in sec. 2 of this Act, is repealed June 30, 2009.                                 
22    * Sec. 6. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
23 read:                                                                                                                   
24       TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The Department of Health and Social Services may                                         
25 proceed to adopt regulations necessary to implement the changes made by this Act. The                                   
26 regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before the                               
27 effective date of the statutory changes.                                                                                
28    * Sec. 7. Section 3 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2009.                                                         
29    * Sec. 8. Section 6 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).                                    
30    * Sec. 9. Except as provided in secs. 7 and 8 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2006.