Governor Murkowski Signs Bill Expanding Medicaid Adult Preventative Dental Care
$1.3 million general fund investment generates $10.2 million total for program
(Press Release 6/2/06 No. 06-097) – Today at the Atwood Building, Governor Frank H. Murkowski signed into law legislation that expands the range of Medicaid dental services to provide a more complete level of adult dental services.
“House Bill 105 will expand Medicaid adult dental coverage so it can be a preventive health benefit, instead of it solely providing emergency dental care for adult Medicaid recipients,” said Murkowski. “It’s a good investment in Alaska’s current and future seniors.”
The Department of Health and Social Services plans to implement the new program by spring 2007, after the regulations are in place.
“With the passage of House Bill 105, eligible adults will have access to dental services including exams, cleanings, tooth restoration or extraction, and upper or lower full denture,” DHSS Commissioner Karleen Jackson said. “Currently only emergency dental care is offered to relieve pain or to fight acute infection.”
Once the dental program is implemented, the state investment of $1.3 million in general funds will be matched with federal funds and funding from the Mental Health Trust Authority, for a total annual cost of $10.2 million – an eight-fold return on Medicaid dollars. The Mental Health Trust Authority is contributing $1.425 million a year toward the program.
There are also parameters in place to keep total program costs within the fiscal limits set by the Legislature. There is an annual cap of $1,150 for dental services for each individual, and a three-year sunset on the program, which provides a trial period and an opportunity to evaluate the program.
“Before this program sunsets, we can evaluate the program and make data-driven decisions about the need and use of the Medicaid dental benefit, and what the true costs will be,” Jackson said.
Adult Dental Medicaid Enhancement - Fact Sheet