CSHB 105(HES): "An Act relating to coverage for adult dental services under Medicaid; and providing for an effective date."
00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 105(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 AS 47.07.900(1) is repealed. 17 * Sec. 4.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.