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Senate Bill 1464 Medi-Cal: Benefits: Enrollees with Special Dental Care Needs authored by Senator Scott Wiener passed out of the Assembly Health Committee on consent earlier this week. This bill is an important step toward increasing access to dental care for people with I/DD who may need more time and or attention throughout the process or dental procedures. If it gets passed and the Governor signs the bill it will require the Department of Health Care Services to give provider’s payment adjustments for the extra time needed to address the unique dental care needs for people with I/DD. Currently, Denti-Cal does not reimburse dentists for any additional time that may be necessary to treat dental issues or perform preventive treatments such as cleanings and fluoride treatments. For years we have heard from dental providers that they “just can’t afford to accept Denti-Cal patients with special needs” because the length of time it takes to do even simple procedures and the low reimbursement rates. The next stop and step for the bill is to make it through Assembly Appropriations Committee. If you are interested in following this bill visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
We are hopeful that this bill will make it through the legislative process and get signed by the Governor!
Teresa Anderson, Policy Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration