Florida Senate - 2019 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. PCS (192902) for SB 7078
Ì720040[Î720040
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/19/2019 .
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The Committee on Appropriations (Flores) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment to Amendment (520116) (with title
2 amendment)
3
4 Between lines 4 and 5
5 insert:
6 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote
7 programs and initiatives that help make available preventive and
8 educational dental services for the citizens of the state, as
9 well as provide quality dental treatment services. The
10 geographic characteristics among the citizens of the state are
11 distinctive and vary from region to region, with such citizens
12 having unique needs regarding access to dental care. The
13 Legislature recognizes that maintaining good oral health is
14 integral to the overall health status of individuals and that
15 the good health of the residents of this state is an important
16 contributing factor in economic development. Better health,
17 including better oral health, increases workplace productivity,
18 reduces the burden of health care costs, and improves the
19 cognitive development of children, resulting in a reduction of
20 missed school days.
21 Section 2. Section 381.4019, Florida Statutes, is created
22 to read:
23 381.4019 Dental Student Loan Repayment Program.—The
24 Legislature shall establish the Dental Student Loan Repayment
25 Program to promote access to dental care by supporting qualified
26 dentists who treat medically underserved populations in dental
27 health professional shortage areas or medically underserved
28 areas.
29 (1) As used in this section, the term:
30 (a) “Dental health professional shortage area” means a
31 geographic area designated as such by the Health Resources and
32 Services Administration of the United States Department of
33 Health and Human Services.
34 (b) “Department” means the Department of Health.
35 (c) “Loan program” means the Dental Student Loan Repayment
36 Program.
37 (d) “Medically underserved area” means a geographic area,
38 an area having a special population, or a facility which is
39 designated by department rule as a health professional shortage
40 area as defined by federal regulation and which has a shortage
41 of dental health professionals who serve Medicaid recipients and
42 other low-income patients.
43 (e) “Public health program” means a county health
44 department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally
45 funded community health center, a federally funded migrant
46 health center, or other publicly funded or nonprofit health care
47 program designated by the department.
48 (2) The department shall establish a dental student loan
49 repayment program to benefit Florida-licensed dentists who
50 demonstrate, as required by department rule, active employment
51 in a public health program that serves Medicaid recipients and
52 other low-income patients and is located in a dental health
53 professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
54 (3) The department shall award funds from the loan program
55 to repay the student loans of a dentist who meets the
56 requirements of subsection (2).
57 (a) An award may not exceed $50,000 per year per eligible
58 dentist.
59 (b) Only loans to pay the costs of tuition, books, dental
60 equipment and supplies, uniforms, and living expenses may be
61 covered.
62 (c) All repayments shall be contingent upon continued proof
63 of eligibility and shall be made directly to the holder of the
64 loan. The state shall bear no responsibility for the collection
65 of any interest charges or other remaining balances.
66 (d) A dentist is eligible to receive funds under the loan
67 program for at least 1 year, up to a maximum of 5 years.
68 (e) The department shall limit the number of new dentists
69 participating in the loan program to not more than 10 per fiscal
70 year.
71 (4) A dentist is no longer eligible to receive funds under
72 the loan program if the dentist:
73 (a) Is no longer employed by a public health program that
74 meets the requirements of subsection (2).
75 (b) Ceases to participate in the Florida Medicaid program.
76 (c) Has disciplinary action taken against his or her
77 license by the Board of Dentistry for a violation of s. 466.028.
78 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the loan
79 program.
80 (6) Implementation of the loan program is subject to
81 legislative appropriation.
82 Section 3. Section 381.40195, Florida Statutes, is created
83 to read:
84 381.40195 Donated Dental Services Program.—
85 (1) This act may be cited as the “Donated Dental Services
86 Act.”
87 (2) As used in this section, the term:
88 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health.
89 (b) “Program” means the Donated Dental Services Program as
90 established pursuant to subsection (3).
91 (3) The department shall establish the Donated Dental
92 Services Program for the purpose of providing comprehensive
93 dental care through a network of volunteer dentists and other
94 dental providers to needy, disabled, elderly, and medically
95 compromised individuals who cannot afford necessary treatment
96 but are ineligible for public assistance. An eligible individual
97 may receive treatment in a volunteer dentist’s or participating
98 dental provider’s private office or at any other suitable
99 location. An eligible individual is not required to pay any fee
100 or cost associated with the treatment he or she receives.
101 (4) The department shall implement and administer the
102 program. The department shall contract with a nonprofit
103 organization that has experience in providing similar services
104 or administering similar programs. The contract must specify the
105 responsibilities of the nonprofit organization, which may
106 include, but are not limited to:
107 (a) Maintaining a network of volunteer dentists and other
108 dental providers, including, but not limited to, dental
109 specialists and dental laboratories, to provide comprehensive
110 dental services to eligible individuals.
111 (b) Maintaining a system to refer eligible individuals to
112 the appropriate volunteer dentist or participating dental
113 provider.
114 (c) Developing a public awareness and marketing campaign to
115 promote the program and educate eligible individuals about its
116 availability and services.
117 (d) Providing the necessary administrative and technical
118 support to administer the program.
119 (e) Submitting an annual report to the department which
120 must include, at a minimum:
121 1. Financial data relating to administering the program.
122 2. Demographic data and other information relating to the
123 eligible individuals who are referred to and receive treatment
124 through the program.
125 3. Demographic data and other information relating to the
126 volunteer dentists and participating dental providers who
127 provide dental services through the program.
128 4. Any other data or information that the department may
129 require.
130 (f) Performing any other program-related duties and
131 responsibilities as required by the department.
132 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the
133 program.
134 (6) Implementation of the program is subject to legislative
135 appropriation.
136
137 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
138 And the title is amended as follows:
139 Delete line 366
140 and insert:
141 An act relating to health care; providing legislative
142 intent; creating s. 381.4019, F.S.; establishing the
143 Dental Student Loan Repayment Program to support
144 dentists who practice in public health programs
145 located in certain underserved areas; providing
146 definitions; requiring the Department of Health to
147 establish a dental student loan repayment program for
148 specified purposes; providing for the award of funds;
149 providing the maximum number of years funds may be
150 awarded; providing eligibility requirements; requiring
151 the department to adopt rules; specifying that
152 implementation of the program is subject to
153 legislative appropriation; creating s. 381.40195,
154 F.S.; providing a short title; providing definitions;
155 requiring the Department of Health to establish the
156 Donated Dental Services Program to provide
157 comprehensive dental care to certain eligible
158 individuals; requiring the department to contract with
159 a nonprofit organization to implement and administer
160 the program; specifying minimum contractual
161 responsibilities; requiring the department to adopt
162 rules; specifying that implementation of the program
163 is subject to legislative appropriation; amending s.
164 395.1012,