By Raymond                                            H.B. No. 1153
         77R493 KLA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to providing dental services to certain recipients of
 1-3     medical assistance.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Subsection (x) to read as follows:
 1-7           (x)  The department shall provide dental services annually to
 1-8     a resident of a nursing facility who is a recipient of medical
 1-9     assistance under this chapter.  The dental services must include:
1-10                 (1)  a dental examination by a licensed dentist;
1-11                 (2)  a prophylaxis by a licensed dentist or licensed
1-12     dental hygienist, if practical considering the health of the
1-13     resident; and
1-14                 (3)  diagnostic dental x-rays, if possible.
1-15           SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Human Services, in
1-16     cooperation with the Health and Human Services Commission, shall by
1-17     rule develop a fee schedule for dental services provided under
1-18     Section 32.024(x), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
1-19           SECTION 3.  (a)  The Health and Human Services Commission
1-20     shall conduct a study regarding the need for and cost of expanding
1-21     the dental services provided under Section 32.024(x), Human
1-22     Resources Code, as added by this Act.
1-23           (b)  Not later than December 1, 2002, the commissioner of
1-24     health and human services shall report to the governor, the
 2-1     lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
 2-2     and the presiding officers of the standing committees of the senate
 2-3     and of the house of representatives having primary jurisdiction
 2-4     over the commission the results of the study, including an analysis
 2-5     of the costs, benefits, and feasibility of expanding dental
 2-6     services provided under Section 32.024(x), Human Resources Code, as
 2-7     added by this Act.
 2-8           SECTION 4.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
 2-9     a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
2-10     federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
2-11     the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
2-12     authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
2-13     waiver or authorization is granted.
2-14           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.