Assigned to HHS & APPROP FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to HHS & APPROP FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
AHCCCS; dental care; pregnant women
Purpose
Requires Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) contractors to provide dental services to eligible pregnant women who are at least 21 years of age and appropriates funds for the dental services.
Background
AHCCCS was originally established by the Legislature in 1981 as Arizona’s Medicaid program to provide health insurance coverage for individuals and families when they have an income level that, at a minimum, is between zero and one hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines as published annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (A.R.S. § 36-2901.01). AHCCCS uses federal, state, and county funds to provide health care coverage to Arizona's acute and long-term care Medicaid populations.
AHCCCS contracts with health professionals to provide certain medically necessary health and medical services to AHCCCS members. Currently, contractors with AHCCCS are required to provide the following services to AHCCCS members, as prescribed: 1) inpatient hospital services; 2) outpatient health services; 3) laboratory and X-ray services; 4) prescription medications; 5) medical supplies; 6) eye exams and prescriptive lenses; 7) early and periodic heath screening and diagnostic services; 8) family planning services; 9) podiatry services; 10) nonexperimental transplants; 11) emergency dental care; 12) ambulance and nonambulance transportation; and 13) hospice care (A.R.S. § 36-2907).
The practice of dentistry is the diagnosis, surgical or nonsurgical treatment and performance of related adjunctive procedures for any disease, pain, deformity, deficiency, injury or physical condition of the human tooth or teeth, alveolar process, gums, lips, cheek, jaws, oral cavity and associated tissues, including the removal of stains, discolorations and concretions (A.R.S. § 32-1202).
The anticipated fiscal impact to the state associated with this legislation is $1,272,800 from the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Requires AHCCCS to provide dental services in an annual amount of not more than $1,000 per member to eligible women who are at least 21 years of age and in any stage of pregnancy.
2. Appropriates $1,272,800 from the state General Fund and $2,954,300 from federal Medicaid authority in FY 2019 to AHCCCS to provide dental services to eligible pregnant women.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2018
CRS/lat