BILL NUMBER: AB 275	CHAPTERED  09/15/02

	CHAPTER  522
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 15, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 13, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 28, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 22, 2002
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 5, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 24, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 18, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 27, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Aroner
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Cohn, Koretz, and Negrete McLeod)

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2001

   An act to add Section 14022.5 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to Medi-Cal.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 275, Aroner.  Medi-Cal:  developmentally disabled:  dental
care.
   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is
administered by the State Department of Health Services, pursuant to
which medical benefits, including dental care, are provided to public
assistance recipients and certain other low-income persons.
   Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services
Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to
contract with regional centers for the provision of various services
and supports to persons with developmental disabilities.
   This bill would require the State Department of Health Services,
in cooperation with the State Department of Developmental Services,
and in consultation with the California Dental Association, to
provide existing data regarding dental services received by Medi-Cal
beneficiaries who are eligible to receive dental services under the
act, to specified committees of the Legislature by April 1, 2003.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 14022.5 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   14022.5.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the
challenges and unique dental treatment needs of the developmentally
disabled population that cannot be addressed within the current
structure of benefits, frequency of allowable procedures, and
treatment authorization procedures for assistance programs relating
to dental benefits.
   (b) The department shall work in cooperation with the State
Department of Developmental Services, and in consultation with the
California Dental Association, to provide existing data directly to
the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature specified in
subdivision (c), by April 1, 2003, describing the characteristics of
dental services received by Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are eligible
to receive dental services under the Lanterman Developmental
Disability Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section
4500)), who can be easily identified, including, but not limited to,
the frequency of utilization of dental procedures and services, and
types of dental procedures and services.
   (c) The committees to whom the data shall be provided include all
of the following:
   (1) The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
   (2) The Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 3 on Health, Human
Services, Labor, and Veterans Affairs.
   (3) The Assembly Committee on Health.
   (4) The Assembly Committee on Human Services.
   (5) The Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Health and Human
Services.
   (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the information
described in subdivision (b) will be used to identify possible
program modifications that are more appropriate to serve the
population described in subdivision (b), and that are more efficient
and more effective in serving this population, while remaining
cost-neutral.