Florida Senate - 2019 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. SB 716
Ì259042ÇÎ259042
576-04105-19
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
(Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services)
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to dental services; providing
3 legislative intent; creating s. 381.4019, F.S.;
4 establishing the Dental Student Loan Repayment Program
5 to support dentists who practice in public health
6 programs located in certain underserved areas;
7 providing definitions; requiring the Department of
8 Health to establish a dental student loan repayment
9 program for specified purposes; providing for the
10 award of funds; providing the maximum number of years
11 funds may be awarded; providing eligibility
12 requirements; requiring the department to adopt rules;
13 specifying that implementation of the program is
14 subject to legislative appropriation; creating s.
15 381.40195, F.S.; providing a short title; providing
16 definitions; requiring the Department of Health to
17 establish the Donated Dental Services Program to
18 provide comprehensive dental care to certain eligible
19 individuals; requiring the department to contract with
20 a nonprofit organization to implement and administer
21 the program; specifying minimum contractual
22 responsibilities; requiring the department to adopt
23 rules; specifying that implementation of the program
24 is subject to legislative appropriation; providing an
25 effective date.
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote
30 programs and initiatives that help make available preventive and
31 educational dental services for the citizens of the state, as
32 well as provide quality dental treatment services. The
33 geographic characteristics among the citizens of the state are
34 distinctive and vary from region to region, with such citizens
35 having unique needs regarding access to dental care. The
36 Legislature recognizes that maintaining good oral health is
37 integral to the overall health status of individuals and that
38 the good health of the residents of this state is an important
39 contributing factor in economic development. Better health,
40 including better oral health, increases workplace productivity,
41 reduces the burden of health care costs, and improves the
42 cognitive development of children, resulting in a reduction of
43 missed school days.
44 Section 2. Section 381.4019, Florida Statutes, is created
45 to read:
46 381.4019 Dental Student Loan Repayment Program.—The
47 Legislature shall establish the Dental Student Loan Repayment
48 Program to promote access to dental care by supporting qualified
49 dentists who treat medically underserved populations in dental
50 health professional shortage areas or medically underserved
51 areas.
52 (1) As used in this section, the term:
53 (a) “Dental health professional shortage area” means a
54 geographic area designated as such by the Health Resources and
55 Services Administration of the United States Department of
56 Health and Human Services.
57 (b) “Department” means the Department of Health.
58 (c) “Loan program” means the Dental Student Loan Repayment
59 Program.
60 (d) “Medically underserved area” means a geographic area,
61 an area having a special population, or a facility which is
62 designated by department rule as a health professional shortage
63 area as defined by federal regulation and which has a shortage
64 of dental health professionals who serve Medicaid recipients and
65 other low-income patients.
66 (e) “Public health program” means a county health
67 department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally
68 funded community health center, a federally funded migrant
69 health center, or other publicly funded or nonprofit health care
70 program designated by the department.
71 (2) The department shall establish a dental student loan
72 repayment program to benefit Florida-licensed dentists who
73 demonstrate, as required by department rule, active employment
74 in a public health program that serves Medicaid recipients and
75 other low-income patients and is located in a dental health
76 professional shortage area or a medically underserved area.
77 (3) The department shall award funds from the loan program
78 to repay the student loans of a dentist who meets the
79 requirements of subsection (2).
80 (a) An award may not exceed $50,000 per year per eligible
81 dentist.
82 (b) Only loans to pay the costs of tuition, books, dental
83 equipment and supplies, uniforms, and living expenses may be
84 covered.
85 (c) All repayments shall be contingent upon continued proof
86 of eligibility and shall be made directly to the holder of the
87 loan. The state shall bear no responsibility for the collection
88 of any interest charges or other remaining balances.
89 (d) A dentist is eligible to receive funds under the loan
90 program for at least 1 year, up to a maximum of 5 years.
91 (e) The department shall limit the number of new dentists
92 participating in the loan program to not more than 10 per fiscal
93 year.
94 (4) A dentist is no longer eligible to receive funds under
95 the loan program if the dentist:
96 (a) Is no longer employed by a public health program that
97 meets the requirements of subsection (2).
98 (b) Ceases to participate in the Florida Medicaid program.
99 (c) Has disciplinary action taken against his or her
100 license by the Board of Dentistry for a violation of s. 466.028.
101 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the loan
102 program.
103 (6) Implementation of the loan program is subject to
104 legislative appropriation.
105 Section 3. Section 381.40195, Florida Statutes, is created
106 to read:
107 381.40195 Donated Dental Services Program.—
108 (1) This act may be cited as the “Donated Dental Services
109 Act.”
110 (2) As used in this section, the term:
111 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health.
112 (b) “Program” means the Donated Dental Services Program as
113 established pursuant to subsection (3).
114 (3) The department shall establish the Donated Dental
115 Services Program for the purpose of providing comprehensive
116 dental care through a network of volunteer dentists and other
117 dental providers to needy, disabled, elderly, and medically
118 compromised individuals who cannot afford necessary treatment
119 but are ineligible for public assistance. An eligible individual
120 may receive treatment in a volunteer dentist’s or participating
121 dental provider’s private office or at any other suitable
122 location. An eligible individual is not required to pay any fee
123 or cost associated with the treatment he or she receives.
124 (4) The department shall implement and administer the
125 program. The department shall contract with a nonprofit
126 organization that has experience in providing similar services
127 or administering similar programs. The contract must specify the
128 responsibilities of the nonprofit organization, which may
129 include, but are not limited to:
130 (a) Maintaining a network of volunteer dentists and other
131 dental providers, including, but not limited to, dental
132 specialists and dental laboratories, to provide comprehensive
133 dental services to eligible individuals.
134 (b) Maintaining a system to refer eligible individuals to
135 the appropriate volunteer dentist or participating dental
136 provider.
137 (c) Developing a public awareness and marketing campaign to
138 promote the program and educate eligible individuals about its
139 availability and services.
140 (d) Providing the necessary administrative and technical
141 support to administer the program.
142 (e) Submitting an annual report to the department which
143 must include, at a minimum:
144 1. Financial data relating to administering the program.
145 2. Demographic data and other information relating to the
146 eligible individuals who are referred to and receive treatment
147 through the program.
148 3. Demographic data and other information relating to the
149 volunteer dentists and participating dental providers who
150 provide dental services through the program.
151 4. Any other data or information that the department may
152 require.
153 (f) Performing any other program-related duties and
154 responsibilities as required by the department.
155 (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer the
156 program.
157 (6) Implementation of the program is subject to legislative
158 appropriation.
159 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.