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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a dental services voucher pilot program in |
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border-region counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The Department of State Health Services |
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shall develop and implement a dental service voucher pilot program |
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to provide dental services through the use of vouchers to indigent |
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children who are residents of this state in Texas-Mexico |
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border-region counties selected by the department. |
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(b) The Department of State Health Services shall implement |
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the pilot program to: |
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(1) improve the dental health of indigent children in |
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the selected counties through the provision of basic dental health |
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necessities under the supervision of licensed dentists; and |
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(2) ensure certain children in selected counties |
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receive necessary dental services, with a priority given to the |
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provision of emergency dental services. |
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(c) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall establish eligibility criteria for the |
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pilot program. The criteria must require that program |
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participants: |
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(1) live within the identified region; |
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(2) have a family income at or below 185 percent of the |
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federal poverty level; and |
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(3) provide a parent's or guardian's written consent |
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to receipt of dental services. |
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(d) The Department of State Health Services shall determine |
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the dental services to be provided to program participants, which |
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may include: |
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(1) complete dental examinations, including |
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radiographs; and |
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(2) filling cavities, cleaning teeth, extractions, |
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pulpotomies, and other dental services. |
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(e) In designing and implementing the program, the |
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Department of State Health Services shall ensure that: |
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(1) a program participant receives, at no cost to the |
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participant, dental services provided through the pilot program; |
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and |
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(2) the quality of dental services provided to a |
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program participant is frequently monitored and evaluated. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2007, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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establish eligibility criteria as required by Subsection (c) of |
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this section and shall establish any other procedures or |
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requirements necessary to implement this Act. The requirements of |
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Chapter 2001, Government Code, relating to rulemaking do not apply |
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to an action of the executive commissioner under this subsection. |
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(g) Not later than December 1, 2008, the Department of State |
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Health Services shall submit a report to the legislature regarding |
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the program that includes: |
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(1) an analysis of: |
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(A) the effects of using vouchers for the |
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provision of basic dental care; |
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(B) the program's cost-effectiveness; and |
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(C) the program's effect on the quality of dental |
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care received by program participants; and |
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(2) recommendations regarding elimination, |
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continuation, or expansion of the program. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |