Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 39 (2016GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Urquhart, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2016

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires the Department of Health to request waivers from federal law necessary for the Medicaid program to provide dental services to blind or disabled adults already eligible for Medicaid;
• specifies that within Salt Lake County dental services shall be provided to the extent possible through the University of Utah School of Dentistry;
• requires the University of Utah School of Dentistry to annually transfer funds to the Medicaid program to cover the non-federal share of the cost of providing dental services through the school;
• specifies an implementation deadline; and
• requires indefinite cessation of dental services if the federal share of the cost of providing the services falls below 65%.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ADULT DENTAL SERVICES
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart
House Sponsor: 
 Paul Ray
LONG TITLE
Committee Note:
The Health Reform Task Force recommended this bill.
General Description:
This bill directs the Department of Health to seek federal waivers authorizing the
Medicaid program to provide dental services to blind or disabled adults already eligible
for Medicaid.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ requires the Department of Health to request waivers from federal law necessary for
the Medicaid program to provide dental services to blind or disabled adults already
eligible for Medicaid;
▸ specifies that within Salt Lake County dental services shall be provided to the extent
possible through the University of Utah School of Dentistry;
▸ requires the University of Utah School of Dentistry to annually transfer funds to the
Medicaid program to cover the non-federal share of the cost of providing dental
services through the school;
▸ specifies an implementation deadline; and
▸ requires indefinite cessation of dental services if the federal share of the cost of
providing the services falls below 65%.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
26-18-411
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
26-18-411
 is enacted to read:
 26-18-411.
 Medicaid waiver for delivery of adult dental services.
(1) No later than June 30, 2016, the department shall ask the United States Secretary of
Health and Human Services to grant waivers from federal statutory and regulatory law
necessary for the Medicaid program to provide dental services in the manner described in
Subsection (2).
(2) (a) Services shall be provided to only blind or disabled individuals, as defined in 42
U.S.C. Sec. 1382c(a)(1), who are 18 years of age or older and eligible for the program.
(b) To the extent possible, services within Salt Lake County shall be provided through
the University of Utah School of Dentistry.
(c) Each fiscal year, the University of Utah School of Dentistry shall transfer money to
the program in an amount equal to the program's non-federal share of the cost of providing
services under this section through the school during the fiscal year.
(d) During each general session of the Legislature, the department shall report to the
Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee whether the University of Utah School of
Dentistry will have sufficient funds to make the transfer required by Subsection (2)(c) for the
current fiscal year.
(e) Where possible, services not provided by the University of Utah School of
Dentistry shall be provided through managed care or other risk sharing arrangements.
(f) Subject to appropriations by the Legislature, and as determined by the department,
the scope, amount, duration, and frequency of services may be limited.
(3) The reporting requirements of Section 
26-18-3
 apply to the waivers requested under
Subsection (1).
(4) If the waivers requested under Subsection (1) are granted, the Medicaid program
shall begin providing dental services in the manner described in Subsection (2) no later than
January 1, 2017.
(5) If the federal share of the cost of providing dental services under this section will be
less than 65% during any portion of the next fiscal year, the Medicaid program shall cease
providing dental services under this section indefinitely no later than the end of the current
fiscal year.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel