BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 648 (Low) - Community-based services: Virtual Dental Home
program
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|Version: June 29, 2015 |Policy Vote: HEALTH 8 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy |
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*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on August 27, 2015
Bill
Summary: AB 648 would establish a grant program to provide
funding to support virtual dental homes. The bill would
authorize $3 million from a specified special fund to be used
for the program.
Fiscal
Impact:
One-time authorization of $3 million (California Health
Facilities Financing Authority Fund). (Because the Fund is
continuously appropriated in law, the spending authorization
in this bill appropriates $3 million for the purposes of the
bill.)
Unknown increase in Medi-Cal spending for dental procedures
(General Fund and federal funds). The Medi-Cal program
AB 648 (Low) Page 1 of
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provides dental coverage for children and limited coverage for
adults. According to a report by the State Auditor,
utilization of dental services by Medi-Cal beneficiaries is
low compared to other states. In part, this is due to limited
availability of dental providers willing to see new patients
at the rates paid by the Medi-Cal program. The virtual dental
home model has the potential to increase access, by bringing
care to individuals who are not otherwise being served. To the
extent this happens, it could increase Medi-Cal expenditures
for dental service. On the other hand, early interventions
through a virtual dental home model may reduce future costs by
catching problems early. The extent to which the savings from
early interventions will offset the costs of overall increases
in utilization is unknown.
Committee
Amendments: Shift the source of funding for the program from
the General Fund to an existing special fund, reduce the amount
authorized to $3 million, and require the program to be
implemented by the California Health Facilities Financing
Authority.
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