Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
CHIP
ERVICES/Medicaid /Medicaid and
Relating to Dental Services to Medicaid Recipients - S.B. 34
by Senator Zaffirini
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat
77 th Texas Legislature
Currently, the only Medicaid dental services for nursing home residents are long-term care emergency
dental services. The Senate Committee on Human Services reported that since little attempt is made to
deal with dental problems until residents are in pain or unable to eat, the care eventually received is often
more expensive than preventative care.
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide dental services annually to a
resident of a nursing facility who is a medical assistance recipient. The dental services must include a
dental examination by a licensed dentist; a prophylaxis by a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist, if
practical considering the health of the resident; and diagnostic dental x-rays, if possible.
Requires HHSC by rule to develop a fee schedule for dental services in cooperation with Texas
Department of Health and the Texas Department of Human Services.
Requires HHSC to conduct a study regarding the need for and cost of expanding such dental services and
requires the commissioner of health and human services to report the results of the study to specified
entities no later than December 1, 2002.
Simplifying the Medicaid Certification Process - S.B. 43
by Senator Zaffirini, et al.
House Sponsors: Representative Gray, et al.
Under current law, the application process for children who are eligible for Medicaid can be complex and
confusing. The state child health plan, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) application process
is much less complex. Simplifying the Medicaid enrollment process for children could increase the number
of enrolled children, which could benefit the state by reducing the number of children absent from school
and the number of parents missing work to care for a sick child.
Requires Department of Human Services (DHS) to adopt a single consolidated application for children
under 19 applying for Medicaid and CHIP. Permits an application requesting medical assistance for a child
under 19 to be conducted by mail instead of through a personal appearance at a DHS office.
Allows the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop procedures for any office of a
health and human services agency to accept an application requesting medical assistance for a child under
19 years of age.
Allows DHS to contract with hospital districts and other health care providers to accept applications
requesting medical assistance for a child under 19 years of age.
Senate Research Center 140