SRC-MKV, MKV S.B. 34 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 34
77R493 KLA-DBy: Zaffirini
Health and Human Services
2/22/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there are two ways nursing home residents on Medicaid can
receive dental services.  First, an individual can purchase services and
receive Medicaid reimbursement at a later date.  Alternately, a resident
with no income is ineligible for Incurred Medical Expense reimbursement and
can only receive dental care in emergency situations, when treatment is
imperative.  S.B. 34 includes routine preventative dental services to
nursing home residents as basic services under the Texas Medicaid program.
This bill provides a resident of a nursing facility who is a Medicaid
recipient with an annual 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. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Human
Services in SECTION 2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (x), to require the Health and Human Services Commission or an
agency operating part of the medical assistance program (department) to
provide dental services annually to a resident of a nursing home facility
who is a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter.  The dental
services must include a dental examination by a licensed dentist, a
prophylaxis by a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist if
practical, and diagnostic dental x-rays if possible. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the Texas Department of Human Services, in cooperation
with the Health and Human Services Commission (commission), to develop by
rule a fee schedule for dental services provided under Section 32.024(x),
Human Resources Code. 

SECTION 3.  Requires the commission to conduct a study regarding the need
for and cost of expanding the dental services provided under Section
32.024(x), Human Resources Code.  Requires the commissioner of health and
human services to report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the
standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives that
have primary jurisdiction over the commission the results of the study,
including certain features, no later than December 1, 2002.  

SECTION 4.  Authorizes a state agency to delay implementing a provision of
this Act if before implementing any provision the agency determines that a
waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for
implementation of that provision. Authorizes the delay until the waiver or
authorization is granted. 

SECTION 5.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.