04/15/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 26                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  repealing  the   repeal  of  preventative  and                                                                   
     restorative  adult dental  services reimbursement  under                                                                   
     Medicaid; providing  for an effective date  by repealing                                                                   
     the  effective date  of sec.  3, ch. 52,  SLA 2006;  and                                                                   
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:52:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
JULI,  LUCKY, STAFF  TO REPRESENTATIVE  HAWKER, reviewed  the                                                                   
bill.  She  noted  that  the   bill  presented  a  preventive                                                                   
approach  to dental  care.  She  explained that  the  current                                                                   
legislation allows  coverage of incidence including  pain and                                                                   
infection and  preventive care was not  included. Restorative                                                                   
care such  as fillings  or root canals  was also  exempt from                                                                   
coverage.  The proposed legislation  covers preventive  care,                                                                   
root canals, fillings and dentures.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:54:52 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BRAD WHISTLER  DDS, DENTAL OFFICER, DEPARTMENT  OF HEALTH AND                                                                   
SOCIAL SERVICES, explained the  coverage allowed by the bill.                                                                   
He agreed  that the  legislation allows  coverage of  routine                                                                   
dental   visits,   routine   fillings,    denture   services,                                                                   
periodontal maintenance, and root canal therapy.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman asked  if Alaska natives  are eligible  for                                                                   
dental care  through Medicaid.  Mr. Whistler answered  yes as                                                                   
long as the individuals are enrolled in Medicaid.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ellis  requested more information  regarding Medicaid                                                                   
and dentures.  Mr. Whistler  explained  that an annual  limit                                                                   
per recipient  was set  at $1,150, which  is enough  to cover                                                                   
either an upper or a lower denture.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:57:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  asked  what  happens  during  an  abscess  or                                                                   
detrimental  problem that  might  prove  fatal. Mr.  Whistler                                                                   
stated that  these situations are  not subject to  the annual                                                                   
limit.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas  noted that missed appointments  with Medicaid                                                                   
patients are  a common complaint  from dentists. He  asked if                                                                   
there was an  attempt to ameliorate this issue.  Mr. Whistler                                                                   
responded that  the department addressed a variety  of issues                                                                   
with the Medicaid  program. The issue of  missed appointments                                                                   
can be  addressed by tracking  those patients  who repeatedly                                                                   
miss  appointments.  Senator  Thomas  opined  that  a  proper                                                                   
provision might deter a patient from missing appointments.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:00:09 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Lucky noted  that  the caps  were  not  altered in  this                                                                   
legislation. She explained that  the prior committees were in                                                                   
agreement  about a policy  call regarding  the annual  limit.                                                                   
She explained  that one set of  dentures was decided  upon as                                                                   
the other  body was concerned  that costs may balloon  out of                                                                   
control. She acknowledged those  people who believed that the                                                                   
program  is new  and should  proceed  for a  couple of  years                                                                   
prior to changing the cap.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   mentioned  the   fiscal  note   from  the                                                                   
Department   of  Health   and   Social  Services   reflecting                                                                   
$2,529,700  general  fund  to secure  $5,755,800  in  federal                                                                   
receipts as  funding for the  general fund match.  The fiscal                                                                   
note is included in the FY10 operating budget.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB  26   was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  Committee   for  further                                                                   
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
11:02:29 AM