SECOND REGULAR SESSION
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES YATES (Sponsor), JOHNSON (47), COOPER (155), MORRIS,
STEVENSON, MOORE, DUSENBERG, SANDER, BAKER, ERVIN, PEARCE, SMITH (118),
HOBBS AND PRATT (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 12, 2004, and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, by adding thereto three new sections relating to the dental carve-out act of 2004.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto three new sections, to be known as sections 208.675, 208.678, and 208.680, to read as follows:
208.675. Sections 208.675 to 208.680 shall be known and may be cited as the "Dental Carve-Out Act of 2004".
208.678. 1. The division of medical services within the department of social services shall maintain and implement a process for managing dental benefits to public assistance recipients. Such process may include, but is not limited to, innovative risk management payment methodologies, streamlined information systems, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, comprehensive quality programs, outreach programs, fraud and abuse processes, systematic claim interrogation processes, and case evaluations to determine the medical necessity and appropriateness of a patient's treatment. The division shall contract with a single source private entity to provide dental program management services in coordination with the division.
2. The division may place coverage limits on dental services and the frequency of services to:
(1) Prevent fraud, abuse, waste, and over utilization or inappropriate utilization; or
(2) Implement a dental benefit management program; except that, the division shall not limit or restrict access to federal and state-mandated benefits.
3. The division shall establish a statewide uniform dental program administered by a single private entity; except that, the division shall not require a dentist to alter a patient's previously authorized course of treatment unless such alteration is warranted by the patient's condition as initiated by the dentist. Any decision regarding limitations imposed on any dental benefit shall be based on sound clinical practice guidelines.
208.680. 1. The division shall promulgate rules in accordance with state and federal law to implement the provisions of sections 208.675 to 208.680. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the provisions of sections 208.675 to 208.680 shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
2. If any provision of sections 208.675 to 208.680 or any application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of sections 208.675 to 208.680 which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application.