Senators give due pass to bill expanding dental services under Medicaid expansion for FQHCs
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Summary
Senate Bill 2231 would expand Medicaid expansion dental coverage, allowing federally qualified health centers and other providers to claim reimbursement for dental services under the expansion program; the committee voted to advance the bill to the full appropriations committee after witnesses described access gaps and FQHC interest.
Senator Cleary, sponsor of Senate Bill 2231, told the committee the bill would expand dental coverage under Medicaid expansion for care delivered through federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other providers that choose to accept expanded Medicaid patients.
"I think it's a good bill," Cleary said during committee discussion. He and several witnesses argued the change would increase access for patients who currently lack routine dental care and that FQHCs can help fill service gaps for underserved communities.
Testimony showed mixed views from dentists and provider groups about whether private dental practices would participate. Some senators said the state should monitor reimbursement rates and workforce availability; Senator Baker warned that adding federal/state-funded patients without growing provider capacity can shift costs and increase fees for self-pay patients.
The fiscal note ties the program to Medicaid expansion funding (90/10 federal/state match for the expansion population) and estimated utilization-driven costs rising in the later biennium; witnesses said carving the benefit out of managed-care contracts would make the department manage those services directly. Committee members recommended a due pass and the motion carried; the bill was to be carried to the full committee and then back to the Human Services committee for additional review on provider participation and implementation details.
The committee recorded a unanimous due-pass recommendation in the transcript.