GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE DRH80514-SHz-24*  (04/01)

Short Title:        Medicaid Dental/Special Needs Population.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Farmer-Butterfield, Weiss, Pierce, and England (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to require the Division of Medical Assistance, and the Division of Public Health, in the Department of Health and Human Services, to explore Issues related to providing Dental services to the special Needs population, as recommended by the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Division of Medical Assistance, and the Division of Public Health, in the Department of Health and Human Services, shall explore issues that would facilitate dental care and improved dental outcomes for the special needs population.  Issues explored must include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1)        The feasibility and anticipated impact of expanding Medicaid dental services to include reimbursement for evidenced-based fluoride and periodontal therapies for high-risk adults with special health care needs.

(2)        The feasibility and anticipated impact of implementing facility code policies that would allow certified providers to bill for each patient seen in a long-term care facility or group home on the date of service.

SECTION 1.(b)  The Department of Health and Human Services shall report findings and recommendations on the issues in this section on or before November 15, 2011, to the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.