HB 1037 -- Dental Benefits

Sponsor:  Yates

This bill creates the Dental Carve-Out Act of 2004.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires the Division of Medical Services within the
Department of Social Services to establish and implement a
process for managing dental benefits for public assistance
recipients.  The process can use various methodologies, programs,
and practices to determine the medical necessity and
appropriateness of a recipient's treatment;

(2)  Requires the division to contract with a single source
private entity to provide dental program management service
coordination;

(3)  Allows the division to place coverage limits on dental
services, excluding state and federally mandated services.
The limits must be based on sound clinical practice guidelines;

(4)  Prohibits the division from requiring a dentist to alter a
patient's previous course of treatment unless the alteration is
warranted by the patient's condition and initiated by the
dentist; and

(5)  Contains a severability clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am