Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 274 (2017GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Christensen, A.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• amends the date on which the Medicaid program will start delivering adult dental services under a federal waiver from May 1, 2017, to July 1, 2017; and
• amends the reimbursement method for dental services not provided by the University of Utah School of Dentistry.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

MEDICAID DENTAL WAIVER AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
House Sponsor: 
Steve Eliason
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends the Medicaid waiver for the delivery of adult dental services.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ amends the date on which the Medicaid program will start delivering adult dental
services under a federal waiver from May 1, 2017, to July 1, 2017; and
▸ amends the reimbursement method for dental services not provided by the
University of Utah School of Dentistry.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
26-18-413
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 284
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
26-18-413
 is amended to read:
26-18-413.
 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) To the extent funded, 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.
]
:
(i) through fee for service reimbursement until July 1, 2018; and
(ii) after July 1, 2018, through the method of reimbursement used by the division for
Medicaid dental benefits.
(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
[
May
] 
July
 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.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
the date of veto override.