BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 648 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 648 (Low) - As Introduced February 24, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Health |Vote:|19 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill appropriates $4 million to the Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish the Virtual Dental Home (VDH) program, and specifies administrative requirements and program goals. AB 648 Page 2 FISCAL EFFECT: 1)$4 million GF to DPH to establish the program. DPH would scale the effort, including number of sites, individuals trained, and individuals served, to the available funding. The bill's supporters, who are familiar with the VDH model, project the funding could be used to support training and equipment in 20 communities over a three-year grant period. 2)To the extent this model is successful in promoting access to preventive and diagnostic dental services and more children are able to receive such services through its widespread adoption, there could be commensurate cost pressure on Medi-Cal dental services to reimburse for additional services (GF/federal funds). However, any increased costs would likely be offset to some extent by reductions in emergency dental procedures or complications from untreated dental disease. The magnitude and likelihood of such costs or savings is unknown. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. The author states VDH has the potential to become a sustainable and scalable model for dental care delivery, but needs an upfront investment in training, equipment, technical assistance, and other support to develop the critical mass needed to spread statewide and truly be integrated into California's dental delivery system. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Dental Association and The Children's Partnership. 2)Background. VDH is a community-based oral health delivery AB 648 Page 3 system in which people receive preventive and simple therapeutic services in community settings. It uses telehealth technology to link dental hygienists and dental assistants in the community with dentists in dental offices and clinics, enabling care in places like Head Start sites and schools. VDH was developed and evaluated through the state Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development's Health Workforce Pilot Program (HWPP#172). AB 1174 (Bocanegra), Chapter 662, Statutes of 2014, provided a statutory framework for VDH and authorized scope of practice changes, as well as Medi-Cal reimbursement for VDH-provided services. Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081