86R22298 JG-D
By: Deshotel, Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1647
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1647:
By: Noble C.S.H.B. No. 1647
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the development of a dental services benefit under
Medicaid for adult recipients with disabilities and a pilot program
to provide those services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0545 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0545. DENTAL SERVICES BENEFIT FOR CERTAIN
RECIPIENTS; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall develop a
dental services benefit under the medical assistance program for
adult recipients with disabilities. The dental services benefit
must be:
(1) cost-effective and designed to achieve cost
savings;
(2) designed to reduce emergency room visits by or
hospitalizations of adult recipients with disabilities resulting
from a lack of access to dental services; and
(3) designed to meet the individual needs of adult
recipients with disabilities.
(b) In developing the dental services benefit under this
section, the commission shall evaluate dental services benefits
provided under medical assistance waiver programs authorized under
Section 1115 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section
1315) and dental services benefits provided as a value-added
service under the Medicaid managed care delivery model.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2020, the commission shall
prepare and submit to the legislature a written report on the dental
services benefit developed under this section.
(d) The commission may establish and operate a pilot program
to provide the dental services benefit developed under this section
in one or more geographic areas of this state. The pilot program
must conclude not later than September 1, 2022. If the commission
establishes the pilot program under this section, the commission
shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written report that
summarizes the results of the pilot program not later than December
1, 2022.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.