Florida Senate - 2019 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. PCS (192902) for SB 7078
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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The Committee on Appropriations (Flores) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Before line 130
4 insert:
5 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote
6 programs and initiatives that help make available preventive and
7 educational dental services for the citizens of the state, as
8 well as provide quality dental treatment services. The
9 geographic characteristics among the citizens of the state are
10 distinctive and vary from region to region, with such citizens
11 having unique needs regarding access to dental care. The
12 Legislature recognizes that maintaining good oral health is
13 integral to the overall health status of individuals and that
14 the good health of the residents of this state is an important
15 contributing factor in economic development. Better health,
16 including better oral health, increases workplace productivity,
17 reduces the burden of health care costs, and improves the
18 cognitive development of children, resulting in a reduction of
19 missed school days.
20 Section 2. Section 381.4019, Florida Statutes, is created
21 to read:
22 381.4019 Dental Student Loan Repayment Program.—The
23 Legislature shall establish the Dental Student Loan Repayment
24 Program to promote access to dental care by supporting qualified
25 dentists who treat medically underserved populations in dental
26 health professional shortage areas or medically underserved
27 areas.
28 (1) As used in this section, the term:
29 (a) “Dental health professional shortage area” means a
30 geographic area designated as such by the Health Resources and
31 Services Administration of the United States Department of
32 Health and Human Services.
33 (b) “Department” means the Department of Health.
34 (c) “Loan program” means the Dental Student Loan Repayment
35 Program.
36 (d) “Medically underserved area” means a geographic area,
37 an area having a special population, or a facility which is
38 designated by department rule as a health professional shortage
39 area as defined by federal regulation and which has a shortage
40 of dental health professionals who serve Medicaid recipients and
41 other low-income patients.
42 (e) “Public health program” means a county health
43 department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally
44 funded community health center, a federally funded migrant
45 health center, or other publicly funded or nonprofit health care
46 program designated by the department.
47 (2) The department shall establish a dental student loan
48 repayment program to benefit Florida-licensed dentists who
49 demonstrate, as required by department rule, active employment
50 in a public health program that serves Medicaid recipients and
51 other low-income patients and is located in a dental health
52 professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
53 (3) The department shall award funds from the loan program
54 to repay the student loans of a dentist who meets the
55 requirements of subsection (2).
56 (a) An award may not exceed $50,000 per year per eligible
57 dentist.
58 (b) Only loans to pay the costs of tuition, books, dental
59 equipment and supplies, uniforms, and living expenses may be
60 covered.
61 (c) All repayments shall be contingent upon continued proof
62 of eligibility and shall be made directly to the holder of the
63 loan. The state shall bear no responsibility for the collection
64 of any interest charges or other remaining balances.
65 (d) A dentist is eligible to receive funds under the loan
66 program for at least 1 year, up to a maximum of 5 years.
67 (e) The department shall limit the number of new dentists
68 participating in the loan program to not more than 10 per fiscal
69 year.
70 (4) A dentist is no longer eligible to receive funds under
71 the loan program if the dentist:
72 (a) Is no longer employed by a public health program that
73 meets the requirements of subsection (2).
74 (b) Ceases to participate in the Florida Medicaid program.
75 (c) Has disciplinary action taken against his or her
76 license by the Board of Dentistry for a violation of s. 466.028.
77 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the loan
78 program.
79 (6) Implementation of the loan program is subject to
80 legislative appropriation.
81 Section 3. Section 381.40195, Florida Statutes, is created
82 to read:
83 381.40195 Donated Dental Services Program.—
84 (1) This act may be cited as the “Donated Dental Services
85 Act.”
86 (2) As used in this section, the term:
87 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health.
88 (b) “Program” means the Donated Dental Services Program as
89 established pursuant to subsection (3).
90 (3) The department shall establish the Donated Dental
91 Services Program for the purpose of providing comprehensive
92 dental care through a network of volunteer dentists and other
93 dental providers to needy, disabled, elderly, and medically
94 compromised individuals who cannot afford necessary treatment
95 but are ineligible for public assistance. An eligible individual
96 may receive treatment in a volunteer dentist’s or participating
97 dental provider’s private office or at any other suitable
98 location. An eligible individual is not required to pay any fee
99 or cost associated with the treatment he or she receives.
100 (4) The department shall implement and administer the
101 program. The department shall contract with a nonprofit
102 organization that has experience in providing similar services
103 or administering similar programs. The contract must specify the
104 responsibilities of the nonprofit organization, which may
105 include, but are not limited to:
106 (a) Maintaining a network of volunteer dentists and other
107 dental providers, including, but not limited to, dental
108 specialists and dental laboratories, to provide comprehensive
109 dental services to eligible individuals.
110 (b) Maintaining a system to refer eligible individuals to
111 the appropriate volunteer dentist or participating dental
112 provider.
113 (c) Developing a public awareness and marketing campaign to
114 promote the program and educate eligible individuals about its
115 availability and services.
116 (d) Providing the necessary administrative and technical
117 support to administer the program.
118 (e) Submitting an annual report to the department which
119 must include, at a minimum:
120 1. Financial data relating to administering the program.
121 2. Demographic data and other information relating to the
122 eligible individuals who are referred to and receive treatment
123 through the program.
124 3. Demographic data and other information relating to the
125 volunteer dentists and participating dental providers who
126 provide dental services through the program.
127 4. Any other data or information that the department may
128 require.
129 (f) Performing any other program-related duties and
130 responsibilities as required by the department.
131 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the
132 program.
133 (6) Implementation of the program is subject to legislative
134 appropriation.
135
136 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
137 And the title is amended as follows:
138 Delete line 2
139 and insert:
140 An act relating to health care; providing legislative
141 intent; creating s. 381.4019, F.S.; establishing the
142 Dental Student Loan Repayment Program to support
143 dentists who practice in public health programs
144 located in certain underserved areas; providing
145 definitions; requiring the Department of Health to
146 establish a dental student loan repayment program for
147 specified purposes; providing for the award of funds;
148 providing the maximum number of years funds may be
149 awarded; providing eligibility requirements; requiring
150 the department to adopt rules; specifying that
151 implementation of the program is subject to
152 legislative appropriation; creating s. 381.40195,
153 F.S.; providing a short title; providing definitions;
154 requiring the Department of Health to establish the
155 Donated Dental Services Program to provide
156 comprehensive dental care to certain eligible
157 individuals; requiring the department to contract with
158 a nonprofit organization to implement and administer
159 the program; specifying minimum contractual
160 responsibilities; requiring the department to adopt
161 rules; specifying that implementation of the program
162 is subject to legislative appropriation; amending s.
163 394.4615,