Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1392 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1289 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1392
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Robyn K. Kennedy
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing an oral health special commission and needs assessment.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst WorcesterSal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/7/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1289 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1392
18	18	By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1392) of Robyn K. Kennedy and
19	19	Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to establish an oral health special commission and needs
20	20	assessment. Public Health.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 1378 OF 2021-2022.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act establishing an oral health special commission and needs assessment.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of oral health
32	32	2within the department of public health shall establish a special commission on oral health for the
33	33	3purpose of making an investigation and study of the current burden of oral disease in the
34	34	4Commonwealth, identifying the gaps in care and developing a strategic plan to address specific
35	35	5barriers, integrate oral health with general health, and improve access and quality of oral health
36	36	6care provided for the residents of the commonwealth. Said commission shall consist of:, the
37	37	7commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the current members of
38	38	8the department of public health office of oral health advisory committee; the assistant secretary
39	39	9for MassHealth or a designee; two members of the house of representatives to be named by the
40	40	10speaker of the house, two members of the senate to be named by the senate president; and twelve 2 of 3
41	41	11members to be named by the Governor; one of whom shall be a representative of the health
42	42	12policy commission; one of whom shall be a representative of the center for health information
43	43	13and analysis; one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Dental Society; one of
44	44	14whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Dental Hygiene Association; one of whom
45	45	15shall be a representative of Health Care For All; three of whom shall be representative of
46	46	16geographically, racially, socioeconomically and ethnically diverse communities in the state; one
47	47	17of whom shall be a representative of an organization representing older adult; two of whom shall
48	48	18be representatives of community health centers that provide dental health services; one of whom
49	49	19shall be a representative of the Boston Public Health Commission; one of whom shall be a
50	50	20representative of the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement; one of whom shall
51	51	21be dean of a Massachusetts school of dental medicine or a designee; one of whom shall be a dean
52	52	22of a Massachusetts school of dental hygiene or a designee; one of whom shall be representative
53	53	23of the Massachusetts Public Health Association; one of whom shall be representative of the
54	54	24Massachusetts Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; one of whom shall be representative of hospital
55	55	25that provides dental services to children; and one of whom shall be representative of a health
56	56	26organization participating in an accountable care payment model. The commission membership
57	57	27may be comprised of members of the department of public health oral health advisory council.
58	58	28The commission may select additional or replacement members as appropriate and may consult
59	59	29with relevant experts to support the commission’s objectives and the production of its report.
60	60	30 (b) Said commission shall investigate the current oral health status and needs of all
61	61	31residents of the Commonwealth, including adult and pediatric populations; assess gaps in access
62	62	32to oral health care and services; develop a plan and timeline to conduct a statewide oral health
63	63	33needs assessment to be led by the oral health advisory council; create guidelines to establish a 3 of 3
64	64	34statewide oral health data and surveillance system using contemporary information technologies
65	65	35and national comparisons of key indicators’ and provide workforce, infrastructure, and policy
66	66	36recommendations that address oral health disparities, increase public awareness of oral health
67	67	37services, and work towards building health equity in the Commonwealth. Said commission shall
68	68	38utilize data to examine oral health status and dental care access for underserved and diverse
69	69	39populations including but not limited to racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse
70	70	40communities across all geographic regions in the commonwealth; assess provider capacity or
71	71	41shortages inclusive of provider enrollment by payer type; propose solutions to improve access to
72	72	42culturally competent care and services, dental care provider enrollment in MassHealth; public
73	73	43oral health prevention and promotion programs, considering the impact of social determinants of
74	74	44health on oral health; telehealth; and such other matters as the commission shall determine to be
75	75	45of relevance and priority.
76	76	46 (c) Said commission shall file its findings and recommendations with the house and
77	77	47senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, the joint
78	78	48committee on public health, the clerks of the house of representatives and senate on or before
79	79	49December 31, 2023. The statewide oral health needs assessment shall be completed no later than
80	80	50December 31, 2025.