BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1098
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Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1098
(Cannella) - As Amended June 30, 2016
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|Policy |Health |Vote:|18 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, until January 1, 2022, establishes the Denti-Cal
Advisory Group (advisory group) to study the policies and
priorities of the Denti-Cal program, and to assist and advise
the Legislature and the administration on the Denti-Cal program.
It also includes, among the duties of the advisory group, a
requirement that the group study the policies and priorities of
Denti-Cal, with the goal of raising the Denti-Cal utilization
rate among eligible children to 60% or higher.
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FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Costs in the range of $200,000 (GF/federal) ongoing annually
to Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), including costs
to staff the advisory group, contract costs to provide
consultant and meeting facilitative services, and other
miscellaneous and travel costs.
2)To the extent this bill results in additional utilization of
dental services based on the specific utilization goal of 60%,
unknown, potentially significant costs to the Denti-Cal
program, as well as potential cost avoidance through
prevention of more severe dental problems by improving access
to dental preventive care (GF/federal). The net effect is
unknown.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill implements a recommendation made by the
Little Hoover Commission (LHC) to improve care in the
Denti-Cal program.
2)Background. Problems such as low provider participation and
low utilization among eligible children have consistently
plagued the Denti-Cal program, the dental services component
of the Medi-Cal program. Recent reports have highlighted the
program's underperformance. Specifically, a 2014 State
Auditor's Report noted low utilization and poor program
monitoring. A 2016 LHC report noted the program's dysfunction,
inability to meet demand for services, underfunding, and
outdated bureaucratic processes that have alienated dental
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professionals. The LHC report called for a more coordinated,
comprehensive system of preventative care. The most
significant DHCS response to the criticism of Denti-Cal was
the prioritization of Denti-Cal improvements through a
recently approved federal waiver. The waiver includes $740
million in funding over five years for the "Dental
Transformation Initiative," which seeks to increase the use of
preventive dental services for children, prevent and treat
more early childhood caries, and increase continuity of care
for children. On a related note, the California Department of
Public Health is undertaking a broader dental health
initiative by creating a State Oral Health Plan under the
auspices of a newly appointed State Dental Director.
3)Support. The Little Hoover Commission, the California Dental
Hygienists Association, and the California Pan-Ethnic Health
Network support this bill, citing the need for evidence-based
recommendations to improve the program.
4)Opposition. DHCS opposes this bill, noting improvements to
Denti-Cal are underway and the intended goals of this
legislation are being addressed through other venues that
allow for public and expert input.
Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 1098
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