| 1 | | - | Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2019 Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2019 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 316Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Robert Rivas(Coauthor: Assembly Member Frazier)January 30, 2019 An act to add Section 14132.235 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health care. Medi-Cal.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 316, as amended, Ramos. Medi-Cal: benefits: beneficiaries with special dental care needs.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a special needs treatment and management benefit, which benefit that would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document specified information, including the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. needs, for purposes of reimbursement. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, various means, including plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department department, by July 1, 2022, to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. regulations. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Medi-Cal dental care program was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to codify a special needs treatment and management benefit for the Medi-Cal dental program.SEC. 2. Section 14132.235 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14132.23, to read:14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 1 | + | Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2019 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 316Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Robert RivasJanuary 30, 2019 An act to add Section 14132.235 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 316, as amended, Ramos. Medi-Cal: benefits: beneficiaries with special dental care needs.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services that are referred to as Denti-Cal, services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, as specified. special needs treatment and management benefit, which would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) Denti-Cal is the The Medi-Cal dental care component program that was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program, and it program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through Medi-Cal. the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. Denti-Cals The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, and does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper payment compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers, payment adjustments payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat higher need special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no such payment adjustment in Denti-Cal permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to reimburse for the extra time needed to treat patients with special dental care needs, as described in this section.(c)(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or other disabilities that complicate his or her dental care or require the dental provider to provide additional expertise, actions, and resources. who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2)Payment adjustment means the additional reimbursement provided to a Medi-Cal provider for treating a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs. This payment is an adjustment to compensate for the extra time needed to render dental services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs that would not otherwise have been expended on a Medi-Cal beneficiary without special dental care needs.(3)(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by report with written documentation for reimbursement to include documentation of findings that supports the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d)(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(e)(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(f)(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 3 | | - | Amended IN Assembly April 04, 2019 Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2019 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 316Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Robert Rivas(Coauthor: Assembly Member Frazier)January 30, 2019 An act to add Section 14132.235 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health care. Medi-Cal.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 316, as amended, Ramos. Medi-Cal: benefits: beneficiaries with special dental care needs.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a special needs treatment and management benefit, which benefit that would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document specified information, including the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. needs, for purposes of reimbursement. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, various means, including plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department department, by July 1, 2022, to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. regulations. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO |
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| 3 | + | Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2019 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 316Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Robert RivasJanuary 30, 2019 An act to add Section 14132.235 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health care. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 316, as amended, Ramos. Medi-Cal: benefits: beneficiaries with special dental care needs.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services that are referred to as Denti-Cal, services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, as specified. special needs treatment and management benefit, which would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO |
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| 27 | | - | Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a special needs treatment and management benefit, which benefit that would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document specified information, including the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. needs, for purposes of reimbursement. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, various means, including plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department department, by July 1, 2022, to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. regulations. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 26 | + | Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including certain dental services that are referred to as Denti-Cal, services, and dental managed care plans.This bill would require the department to implement a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, as specified. special needs treatment and management benefit, which would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 31 | | - | This bill would require the department to implement a special needs treatment and management benefit, which benefit that would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document specified information, including the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. needs, for purposes of reimbursement. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, various means, including plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department department, by July 1, 2022, to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. regulations. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 30 | + | This bill would require the department to implement a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, as specified. special needs treatment and management benefit, which would be provided for 4 visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs, as defined. The bill would require a Medi-Cal dental program provider to document the need for additional time to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs. The bill would not limit the provision or scope of Medi-Cal benefits covered under existing law. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the bill. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action, and would require the department to subsequently adopt regulations, as specified, by July 1, 2022. The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2020, to provide the Legislature with semiannual status reports to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 37 | | - | The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Medi-Cal dental care program was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to codify a special needs treatment and management benefit for the Medi-Cal dental program.SEC. 2. Section 14132.235 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14132.23, to read:14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 36 | + | The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) Denti-Cal is the The Medi-Cal dental care component program that was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program, and it program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through Medi-Cal. the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. Denti-Cals The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, and does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper payment compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers, payment adjustments payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat higher need special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no such payment adjustment in Denti-Cal permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to reimburse for the extra time needed to treat patients with special dental care needs, as described in this section.(c)(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or other disabilities that complicate his or her dental care or require the dental provider to provide additional expertise, actions, and resources. who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2)Payment adjustment means the additional reimbursement provided to a Medi-Cal provider for treating a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs. This payment is an adjustment to compensate for the extra time needed to render dental services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs that would not otherwise have been expended on a Medi-Cal beneficiary without special dental care needs.(3)(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by report with written documentation for reimbursement to include documentation of findings that supports the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d)(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(e)(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(f)(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 43 | | - | SECTION 1. (a) The Medi-Cal dental care program was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to codify a special needs treatment and management benefit for the Medi-Cal dental program. |
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| 42 | + | SECTION 1. (a) Denti-Cal is the The Medi-Cal dental care component program that was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program, and it program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through Medi-Cal. the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. Denti-Cals The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, and does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper payment compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers, payment adjustments payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat higher need special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no such payment adjustment in Denti-Cal permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to reimburse for the extra time needed to treat patients with special dental care needs, as described in this section.(c)(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or other disabilities that complicate his or her dental care or require the dental provider to provide additional expertise, actions, and resources. who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2)Payment adjustment means the additional reimbursement provided to a Medi-Cal provider for treating a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs. This payment is an adjustment to compensate for the extra time needed to render dental services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs that would not otherwise have been expended on a Medi-Cal beneficiary without special dental care needs.(3)(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by report with written documentation for reimbursement to include documentation of findings that supports the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d)(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(e)(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(f)(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 45 | | - | SECTION 1. (a) The Medi-Cal dental care program was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to codify a special needs treatment and management benefit for the Medi-Cal dental program. |
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| 44 | + | SECTION 1. (a) Denti-Cal is the The Medi-Cal dental care component program that was established soon after the 1966 creation of the Medi-Cal program, and it program. The Medi-Cal dental program delivers dental services through a fee-for-service model. Dental services are also provided to beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal dental managed care plans.(b) According to an audit conducted by the California State Auditor in 2014, only 43.9 percent of children enrolled in the Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program had seen a dentist in the previous yeara utilization rate that was the 12th-worst among states that submitted data to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eleven California counties either did not have any Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental program providers or did not have any providers willing to accept any new patients if the children received coverage through Medi-Cal. the Medi-Cal dental program. Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission found that only 26 percent of eligible California adults with Denti-Cal Medi-Cal dental coverage saw a dentist in 2014, according to February 2016 State Department of Health Care Services data.(c) It is widely recognized that people with significant and chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or disabilities have greater challenges obtaining dental services and maintaining good oral health than other individuals. Providing care for these individuals very often requires treating providers to spend additional time and furnish other resources to deliver dental services. Denti-Cals The Medi-Cal dental programs current reimbursement structure is based on a healthier population, and does not acknowledge the additional costs of providing care for persons with special dental care needs, and inhibits providers ability to receive proper payment compensation for their care. With regard to medical health care, as seen in Medicaid, Medicare, and other payers, payment adjustments payer systems, enhanced reimbursement can be used to compensate providers that treat higher need special dental care needs patients for the extra time and resources needed to complete these patients care. There is currently no such payment adjustment in Denti-Cal permanent benefit in the Medi-Cal dental program for providers that treat patients with special dental care needs.(d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to reimburse for the extra time needed to treat patients with special dental care needs, as described in this section.(c)(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or other disabilities that complicate his or her dental care or require the dental provider to provide additional expertise, actions, and resources. who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2)Payment adjustment means the additional reimbursement provided to a Medi-Cal provider for treating a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs. This payment is an adjustment to compensate for the extra time needed to render dental services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs that would not otherwise have been expended on a Medi-Cal beneficiary without special dental care needs.(3)(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by report with written documentation for reimbursement to include documentation of findings that supports the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d)(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(e)(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(f)(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 55 | | - | (d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to codify a special needs treatment and management benefit for the Medi-Cal dental program. |
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| 56 | | - | |
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| 57 | | - | SEC. 2. Section 14132.235 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14132.23, to read:14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 58 | | - | |
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| 59 | | - | SEC. 2. Section 14132.235 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 14132.23, to read: |
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| 60 | | - | |
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| 61 | | - | ### SEC. 2. |
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| 62 | | - | |
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| 63 | | - | 14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 64 | | - | |
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| 65 | | - | 14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 66 | | - | |
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| 67 | | - | 14132.235. (a) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the department shall implement a special needs treatment and management benefit subject to utilization controls.(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a medical, physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional or developmental condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The A request for reimbursement of the special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by a posttreatment report with written documentation for reimbursement to documentation, and shall include documentation of findings that supports support the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition patients condition, a description of additional steps undertaken by the provider in their attempt to successfully treat the patient, and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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| 54 | + | (d) For purposes of improving access to dental care for Medi-Cal dental program beneficiaries with special dental care needs, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide a payment adjustment to Medi-Cal providers who render dental services to reimburse for the extra time needed to treat patients with special dental care needs, as described in this section.(c)(b) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs means a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with chronic medical, physical, mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions or other disabilities that complicate his or her dental care or require the dental provider to provide additional expertise, actions, and resources. who requires additional time for a provider to perform dental services due to the presence of a physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition that prohibits the beneficiary from adequately responding to a providers attempts to perform dental services.(2)Payment adjustment means the additional reimbursement provided to a Medi-Cal provider for treating a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs. This payment is an adjustment to compensate for the extra time needed to render dental services to a Medi-Cal beneficiary with special dental care needs that would not otherwise have been expended on a Medi-Cal beneficiary without special dental care needs.(3)(2) Dental services means dental benefits included in the Medi-Cal dental program schedule of benefits.(c) A Medi-Cal dental program provider shall document in the patients medical record the necessity for any additional time to be expended to treat a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d) The special needs treatment and management benefit shall be by report with written documentation for reimbursement to include documentation of findings that supports the existence of special dental care needs. That documentation shall include the patients medical diagnosis of a condition and the reason for the need of additional time for a dental visit.(e) The special needs treatment and management benefit is provided for four visits in a 12-month period for a Medi-Cal dental program beneficiary with special dental care needs.(d)(f) This section does not limit the provision of, or scope of, Medi-Cal benefits.(g) This section does not preclude the department from establishing multiple billing codes with different criteria to implement the special needs treatment and management benefit.(e)(h) The department shall seek any necessary approvals from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement this section. The department shall implement this section only in a manner that is consistent with federal Medicaid law and regulations, and only to the extent that the necessary approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not jeopardized.(f)(i) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2022, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Commencing January 1, 2020, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted. |
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