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.