Introduced Version
Senate Bill 30 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
Senate Bill No. 30
(By Senators Stollings, Jenkins, Laird and Miller)
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[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the Committee on
Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on
Finance.]
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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-12a, relating to
the Department of Health and Human Resources and Medicaid; and
requiring the coverage by Medicaid of dental services for the
mother of a child who is the recipient of Medicaid services.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-12a, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
§9-5-12a. Medicaid program; dental coverage for mothers of newborn
infants.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the good health of
a mother is essential to the health and development of a child. An
essential part of basic overall good health is good oral health and
ensuring good oral health of a mother is a cost effective way to
ensure that newborns and children under the age of two start life
on a healthy course. Providing oral health to a mother will not
only keep her healthier but will also help improve the health
status of the next generation of West Virginians.
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Resources shall extend Medicaid coverage for basic and emergency
dental care to any mother of a child who is a recipient of Medicaid
services during pregnancy effective July 1, 2013.
(c) For the purposes of this section, basic and emergency
dental care includes the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity
and maxillofacial area.
(d) Any woman who establishes eligibility under this section
shall continue to be treated as an eligible individual without
regard to any change in income of the family of which she is a
member for two full years following the birth of her child.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of
Health and Human Resources and Medicaid to provide dental coverage to an eligible mother for two years following the birth of her
child.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.
The bill passed out of the Legislative oversight Commission on
Health and Human Resource Accountability, recommended for passage.