Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1596
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-01523-17                                           20171596__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to dental services; amending s.
    3         409.973, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
    4         requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
    5         Government Accountability to contract with an
    6         independent third party to conduct a study on the
    7         administration of dental services under the Medicaid
    8         program; specifying the contents of the study;
    9         directing the office to provide a report to the
   10         Governor and Legislature by a specified date;
   11         authorizing the Legislature to use the report for
   12         certain purposes; providing an appropriation;
   13         providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Present subsection (6) of section 409.973,
   18  Florida Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (7), and a new
   19  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
   20         409.973 Benefits.—
   21         (6)LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DENTAL SERVICES.—The Legislature
   22  recognizes the importance of accessible, quality dental care for
   23  the overall health of children in the state. The Legislature
   24  further recognizes that families who rely on the Medicaid
   25  program for health care have unique challenges that, in the
   26  past, may have prevented many children from receiving the dental
   27  services they require. The Legislature also recognizes the
   28  importance of data-driven decisionmaking as it relates to oral
   29  care in the Medicaid program, and, accordingly, believes that
   30  independent, unbiased research is essential for determining how
   31  Medicaid resources may be allocated to achieve the best oral
   32  health outcomes for children in the state.
   33         (a)The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
   34  Accountability shall contract with an independent third party
   35  with no prior or existing conflicts of interest and with
   36  relevant experience in providing dental services under the
   37  Medicaid program to compile a comprehensive, longitudinal study
   38  on the administration of dental services under this part. The
   39  study shall:
   40         1.Examine and compare the effectiveness of the statewide
   41  Medicaid prepaid dental health program for children and adults
   42  in effect from 2019-2024 with the dental health program
   43  administered under the statewide Medicaid managed medical
   44  assistance program in effect from 2014-2019.
   45         2.Compare the amount spent on dental services under each
   46  program and the effectiveness of each program in providing
   47  access to care, achieving patient satisfaction, and delivering
   48  services.
   49         3.Examine provider satisfaction with each program and
   50  document historical trends related to provider participation in
   51  the Medicaid prepaid dental health program and how that
   52  participation impacts patient care.
   53         4.Include an analysis of the economic benefits resulting
   54  to the state from each program.
   55         (b)By December 1, 2023, the Office of Program Policy
   56  Analysis and Government Accountability shall provide a report of
   57  the findings of the study to the Governor, the President of the
   58  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
   59         (c)The Legislature may use the findings in the report when
   60  setting the scope of minimum benefits set forth in this section
   61  for procurements that occur after January 1, 2024.
   62         Section 2. For the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the sum of
   63  $250,000 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the
   64  Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
   65  for the purpose of contracting with an independent third party
   66  to carry out the requirements in s. 409.973(6), Florida
   67  Statutes, as created by this act.
   68         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.