HBA-DMH S.B. 34 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 34
By: Zaffirini
Human Services
4/23/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, nursing home residents are asked at least once a year if
the resident desires a dental examination and treatment at the resident's
own expense.  If a resident is unable to afford dental care through this
process, the only Medicaid dental services available are long-term care
emergency dental services.  The Senate Committee on Human Services reported
that since little attempt is made to deal with dental problems until
residents are in pain or unable to eat, the care eventually received is
often more expensive than preventative care.  Senate Bill 34 requires that
all Medicaid nursing home residents receive yearly dental services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Health and Human Services
Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 34 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide dental services annually to a
resident of a nursing facility who is a medical assistance recipient.  The
dental services must include a dental examination by a licensed dentist; a
prophylaxis by a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist, if
practical considering the health of the resident; and diagnostic dental
x-rays, if possible. 

The bill requires HHSC by rule to develop a fee schedule for such dental
services in cooperation with Texas Department of Health and the Texas
Department of Human Services.  The bill requires HHSC to conduct a study
regarding the need for and cost of expanding such dental services and
requires the commissioner of health and human services to report the
results of the study to specified entities no later than December 1, 2002. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.