SB 1372 — medicaid; dental benefit study committee

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1372 C.

THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST WHO IS EMPLOYED BY A PRACTICE THAT IS OWNED BY PRIVATE EQUITY.

Sec.

TitleThe 20,director chapterof 6,the articledepartment 5,of Arizonahealth Revisedservices Statutes,or isthe amendeddirector's bydesignee. adding section 20-1406.11, to read:

20-1406.11.5.

CertifiedTwo registeredmembers nurserepresenting anesthetist;patient advocacy organizations who have expertise in oral health, dental access or health equity and who are appointed by the president of the senate.

reimbursement6. rate;

applicabilityTwo A.dentists who are licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 11, Arizona Revised Statutes, who represent dental societies or professional dental organizations, who have experience treating patients with unmet oral health needs and have demonstrated knowledge of oral health access barriers and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

A7. GROUP OR BLANKET DISABILITY INSURER THAT ISSUES, AMENDS OR RENEWS A POLICY ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT IMPOSE A REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR A CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 32-1634.04 THAT DIFFERS FROM THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR A PHYSICIAN WHO IS LICENSED PURSUANT TO TITLE 32, CHAPTER 13 OR 17.

B.One dental hygienist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 11, Arizona Revised Statutes, who has expertise in preventative oral health services, community oral health or public health dentistry and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

THIS8. SECTION DOES NOT PREVENT A GROUP OR BLANKET DISABILITY INSURER FROM ESTABLISHING VARIABLE REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT ARE BASED ON QUALITY OR PERFORMANCE-BASED MEASURES.

One person who represents a medicaid health plan in this state, who has experience in medical-dental integration or utilization management strategies and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

9.

One health care economist or actuarial expert who has demonstrated experience in medicaid financing, value-based care design, dynamic economic modeling and long-term budget forecasting and who is appointed jointly by the cochairpersons.

This member shall support the - 1 - S.B.

1372 committee in developing fiscal projections and modeling long-range financial impacts.

THISThe SECTIONstudy DOEScommittee NOTshall APPLYmeet TOat Athe CERTIFIEDcall REGISTEREDof NURSEthe ANESTHETISTcochairpersons WHOand ISmay EMPLOYEDhold BYpublic Ahearings, PRACTICErequest THATdata ISand OWNEDsolicit BYexpert PRIVATEtestimony EQUITY.as needed.

-D. 2 -

Members of the study committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

E.

The study committee may:

1.

Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the cost, potential medical savings, utilization impacts, health outcomes and long-term value of expanding medicaid coverage to include preventive, diagnostic and restorative adult dental services.

2.

Develop and analyze a dynamic financial model incorporating the following:

(a) Projected changes in medical spending associated with untreated oral disease, including emergency room utilization, inpatient admissions, chronic disease management, pregnancy-related complications and opioid prescribing patterns.

(b) Estimated offsets and savings resulting from improved oral health outcomes among adult medicaid members.

(c) Long-term systemwide impacts on the Arizona health care cost containment system, including capitation rate implications, federal matching opportunities and long-horizon cost curves.

(d) Ten-year fiscal projections and sensitivity analyses prepared with the support of the health care economist or actuarial expert member of the study committee.

3.

Identify federal funding pathways, including waivers, demonstration projects, state plan options and federal partnerships, that may support implementation.

4.

Examine national best practices, particularly in states that have comprehensive medicaid adult dental benefits and have achieved measurable cost reductions, improved outcomes or enhanced medical-dental integration.

5.

Review existing Arizona health care cost containment system policies and recommend statutory or administrative changes to improve oral health access, medical-dental integration and workforce capacity.

6.

Identify barriers that impact medicaid members, including provider workforce shortages, reimbursement limitations, transportation gaps and disparities affecting rural and tribal communities.

7.

Recommend legislative and administrative actions to advance equitable, cost-effective and sustainable adult dental coverage within the Arizona health care cost containment system.

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1372 F.

On or before April 30, 2027, the study committee shall submit a written report of its activities, findings, financial modeling results and recommendations for legislative or administrative action to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

G.

This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2027.

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