Assigned to HEALTH & APPROP                                                                                                 FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Forty-eighth Legislature, First Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1488

dental care coverage; appropriations

Purpose

            Appropriates $2.0 million to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Administration and $1.7 million to the Department of Economic Security (DES) for basic and preventative dental care for members of the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS).  Authorizes corresponding federal and county ALTCS expenditures.  Caps the annual per member benefit at $1,000. 

Background

ALTCS is Arizona’s Medicaid long-term care program and is administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Administration.  For elderly and physically disabled ALTCS members, ALTCS provides acute care services, behavioral health services, institutional services, home and community based services and case management services. ALTCS members who are developmentally disabled are served through the DES Division of Developmental Disabilities. 

The federal government pays approximately two-thirds of the cost of the ALTCS program.  Prior to 1997, counties paid the nonfederal share of ALTCS.  In November 1997, the state began to pay 50 percent of the growth in the cost of ALTCS.  The counties pay the remaining 50 percent of the increase. 

            Federal law requires states to provide certain services as a condition of participation in Medicaid.  Other services are deemed optional and may be covered at a state’s discretion.  For individuals age 21 and older, dental services are an optional Medicaid service.  AHCCCS and ALTCS programs currently cover only emergency dental services for adults, which include procedures for the relief of severe pain or treatment of acute.  Basic and preventative dental services are not currently covered for adults.

Laws 2006, Chapter 350, (the State Government budget reconciliation bill) appropriated $1,000,00 in FY 2006-2007 from the state General Fund for preventative dental services through a pilot program administered by a dental school in Maricopa County for adults over age 21 with developmental disabilities. Of the $1,000,000, $925,000 was appropriated for dental services and $75,000 for transportation services. Eligibility is limited to individuals who qualify for ALTCS and DES services for the developmentally disabled.  DES contracted with the A.T. Still Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health to provide the services.

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee baseline for FY 2007-2008 does not continue funding for the pilot program.  The Executive Budget for FY 2007-2008 continues the $1 million state-only funding in DES, and also recommends an additional $2 million from the state General Fund, $3.3 million in county funds, and $10.5 million in federal Medicaid matching monies for preventative dental services to ALTCS patients.

S.B. 1488 appropriates a total of $3,720,400 from the state General Fund in FY 2007-2008 to AHCCCS and DES for the bill’s requirements.

Provisions

1. Requires ALTCS program contractors to provide up to $1,000 annually for basic and preventative dental care, including:

a) diagnostic services, including exams and x-rays.

b) preventative services, including dental cleanings

c) restorative services, including fillings

d) periodontics, including treatment of gum disease.

e) prosthetic services, including dentures and partial dentures

f) oral surgery, including extractions.

2. Appropriates the following amounts from the state General Fund in FY 2008-2009:

a) $2,019,100 to the AHCCCS Administration.

b) $1,701,300 to the DES Division of Developmental Disabilities.

3. Provides the following related expenditure authority:

a) $13,645,100 for the AHCCCS Administration.  Of this amount, $3,284,800 represents the FY 2006-2007 county portion of ALTCS costs.

b) $3,332,000 for the DES Division of Developmental Disabilities.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 6, 2007

BKL/ac