WEST virginia legislature

2022 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 620

By Senators Stollings, Caputo, and Lindsay

[Introduced February 11, 2022; referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §9-5-12a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the maximum dental coverage for Medicaid recipients from $1,000 to $1,500.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§9-5-12a. Medicaid program; dental care.

(a) The following terms are defined:

(1) “Cosmetic services” means dental work that improves the appearance of the teeth, gums, or bite, including, but not limited to, inlays or onlays, composite bonding, dental veneers, teeth whitening, or braces.

(2) “Diagnostic and preventative services” means dental work that maintains good oral health and includes oral evaluations, routine cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatment, fillings, and extractions.

(3) “Restorative services” means dental work that involves tooth replacement, including, but not limited to, dentures, dental implants, bridges, crowns, or corrective procedures such as root canals.

(b) The Department of Health and Human Resources shall extend Medicaid coverage to adults age 21 and over covered by the Medicaid program for diagnostic and preventative dental services and restorative dental services, excluding cosmetic services. This coverage is limited to $1,000 $1,500 each budget year. Recipients must pay for services over the $1,000 $1,500 yearly limit. No provision in this section shall restrict the department in exercising new options provided by, or to be in compliance with, new federal legislation that further expands eligibility for dental care for adult recipients.

(c) The Department of Health and Human Resources is responsible for the implementation of, and program design for, a dental care system to reduce the continuing harm and continuing impact on the health care system in West Virginia. The dental health system design shall include oversight, quality assurance measures, case management, and patient outreach activities. The Department of Health and Human Resources shall assume responsibility for claims processing in accordance with established fee schedules and financial aspects of the program necessary to receive available federal dollars and to meet federal rules and regulations. The Department of Health and Human Resources shall seek authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the provisions of this section.

(d) The provisions of this section enacted during the 2020 regular legislative session shall only become effective upon approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the provider tax as set forth in §11-27-10a of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the maximum annual dental coverage for Medicaid recipients from $1,000 to $1,500.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.