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