Revision: Dec. 30, 2021, 2:23 p.m.
SB 422-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2857
05/10
SENATE BILL 422-FN
AN ACT establishing an adult dental benefit under the state Medicaid program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 1; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 7; Rep. Nordgren, Graf. 12; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 10; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Espitia, Hills. 31
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of health and human services to solicit information and to contract with dental managed care organizations to provide dental care to persons under the Medicaid managed care program.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2857
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT establishing an adult dental benefit under the state Medicaid program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Purpose. To improve overall health, promote savings in the state's Medicaid managed care program, and prevent future health conditions caused by oral health problems, and based on the recommendation of the working group convened pursuant to 2019, 346:225, the general court hereby determines that it is in the best interest of the state of New Hampshire to extend dental benefits under the Medicaid managed care program to individuals 21 years of age and over.
2 New Paragraph; Commissioner of Health and Human Services; Medicaid Managed Care Program; Dental Benefits. Amend RSA 126-A:5 by inserting after paragraph XIX the following new paragraph:
XIX-a.(a)(1) The commissioner shall pursue contracting options to administer the state’s Medicaid dental program with the goals of improving access to dental care for Medicaid populations, improving health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees, expanding the provider network, increasing provider capacity, and retaining innovative programs that improve access and care through a value-based care model.
(2) The commissioner shall issue a request for information to assist in selecting the administrative model for the state’s Medicaid dental program. Such model shall be either a model administered by a dental managed care organization or a model administered by the state’s current medical managed care organizations. The commissioner shall obtain the requested information from both the current medical managed care organizations and any interested dental managed care organization. The administrative model selected shall demonstrate the greatest ability to satisfy the state's need for value, quality, efficiency, innovation, and savings. The request for information shall be released no later than August 1, 2022. The request for information shall address improving health outcomes, expanding the provider network, increasing capacity of providers, integrating a value-based care model, and exploring innovative programs for children and adults.
(3) If the model administered by a dental managed care organization is selected, the commissioner shall issue a 2-year request for proposals, with 2 optional one-year extensions, to enter into contracts with the vendor that demonstrates the greatest ability to satisfy the state's need for value, quality, efficiency, innovation, and savings. The state plan amendment shall be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the quarter of the program effective date. Implementation of a procured contract shall begin no later than April 1, 2023, for the adult benefit. The department, in consultation with oral health stakeholders, will determine the value of implementation of the pediatric dental benefit in a value-based benefit plan. Implementation of the pediatric benefit will occur on a date that follows the successful implementation of the adult dental benefit. The commissioner shall establish a capitated rate for the appropriate model for the contract that is full risk to the vendor. In contracting for a dental managed care model and the various rate cells, the department shall ensure no reduction in the quality of care of services provided to enrollees in the managed care model and shall exercise all due diligence to maintain or increase the quality of care provided. The department shall seek, with the review of the fiscal committee of the general court, all necessary and appropriate state plan amendments and waivers to implement the provisions of this paragraph. The program shall not commence operation until such state plan amendments or waivers have been approved by CMS and only after the end of the public health emergency is declared by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). All necessary state plan amendments and waivers shall be submitted within the quarter of the program effective date.
(4) The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, if necessary, to implement the provisions of this paragraph.
(b) Any vendor awarded a contract pursuant to this paragraph shall provide the required dental services to children with an implementation date to be determined by the department after the successful implementation of the adult benefit and the following dental services to individuals 21 years of age and over, reimbursed under the United States Social Security Act, Title XIX, or successors to it:
(1) Preventive dental services including examinations, necessary x-rays or other imaging, prophylaxis, topical fluoride, oral hygiene instruction, behavior management and smoking cessation counseling, and other services as determined by the commissioner.
(2) Restorative treatment to restore tooth form and function.
(3) Periodontal treatment and oral and maxillofacial surgery to relieve pain, eliminate infection, or prevent imminent tooth loss.
(4) Removable prosthodontics to replace missing teeth subject to medical necessity.
(c) In this paragraph, “dental managed care organization” means any dental care organization, dental service organization, health insurer, or other entity licensed under Title XXXVII, that provides, directly or by contract, dental care services covered under this paragraph rendered by licensed providers and that meets the requirements of Title XIX or Title XI of the federal Social Security Act.
3 Appropriation. The sum of $1,500,000, for the biennium ending June 30, 2023, is appropriated to the department of health and human services, for the purpose of funding the state's share of the dental services provided under RSA 126-A:5, XIX-a to the standard Medicaid population. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. State funding of such services for the Medicaid expansion population shall be from the New Hampshire granite advantage health care trust fund established in RSA 126-AA:3. The department may accept and expend matching federal funds without prior approval of the fiscal committee.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
22-2857
12/27/21
SB 422-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT establishing an adult dental benefit under the state Medicaid program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Due to time constraints, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, at this time. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services