79R6976 CLG-F
By: Hughes H.B. No. 3336
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to dental hygiene services or procedures provided under
the medical assistance program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
(l) The department shall assure that a recipient of medical
assistance under this chapter may select a dental hygienist
licensed under Subchapter B, Chapter 256, Occupations Code, to
perform any dental hygiene service or procedure covered under the
medical assistance program if the selected dental hygienist is
authorized by law to perform the service or procedure. This
subsection shall be liberally construed.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0541 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0541. DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES. In providing dental
hygiene services or procedures under the medical assistance
program, the department shall:
(1) require a dental hygienist participating in the
medical assistance program to comply with a minimum standard of
documentation and recordkeeping for each of the dental hygienist's
patients, regardless of whether the patient's costs are paid
privately or through the medical assistance program; and
(2) take all necessary action to eliminate unlawful
acts described by Section 36.002 in the provision of dental hygiene
services and procedures under the medical assistance program,
including:
(A) aggressively investigating and prosecuting
any dental hygienist who abuses the system for reimbursement under
the medical assistance program; and
(B) conducting targeted audits of dental
hygienists whose billing activities under the medical assistance
program are excessive or otherwise inconsistent with the billing
activities of other similarly situated dental hygienists.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.