HF 778

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/19/2015 03:47pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a statewide initiative for early dental prevention;
establishing grants for dental operatory expansion; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.3875] EARLY DENTAL PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health, in collaboration with the commissioner of human
services, shall implement a statewide initiative to increase awareness among communities
of color and recent immigrants on the importance of early preventive dental intervention
for infants and toddlers before and after primary teeth appear.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall develop educational materials and information for
expectant and new parents within the targeted communities that include the importance
of early dental care to prevent early cavities, including proper cleaning techniques and
feeding habits, before and after primary teeth appear.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall develop a distribution plan to ensure that the materials
are distributed to expectant and new parents within the targeted communities, including,
but not limited to, making the materials available to health care providers, community
clinics, WIC sites, and other relevant sites within the targeted communities.
new text end

new text begin (d) In developing these materials and distribution plan, the commissioner shall work
collaboratively with members of the targeted communities, dental providers, pediatricians,
child care providers, and home visiting nurses.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner shall, with input from stakeholders listed in paragraph (d),
develop and pilot incentives to encourage early dental care within one year of an infant's
teeth erupting.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin GRANTS FOR DENTAL OPERATORY EXPANSION.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of health shall award grants to private practicing dentists or
nonprofit dental clinics for the purpose of expanding their dental practice by adding a
dental operatory and necessary dental equipment. To be eligible for the grants, the dentist
or clinic must meet the following requirements:
new text end

new text begin (1) the operatory to be added must be at a clinic or dental office designated as a
critical access dental provider under section 256B.76, subdivision 4; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the dentist or clinic does not restrict access or services because of a patient's
financial limitations or enrollment in a state public health care program.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant applications may be submitted to the commissioner at any time, and the
commissioner shall award grants to any applicant that meets the requirements until all
appropriated grant funds have been expended. Grants may be awarded to an expansion
already in progress and an applicant may apply for more than one expansion grant.
new text end

new text begin (c) The maximum award per expansion grant shall be no more than 33 percent of the
total costs for a given project expansion, including site acquisition, design, construction,
and equipment costs. An applicant shall describe in its application how proposed new
operatories and dental equipment will be used to expand services to state public program
enrollees and other uninsured and underinsured patients in underserved communities. A
priority will be placed on applicants that can demonstrate that the expansion will address
a high regional need for dental care. The commissioner shall consider the applicant's
history, if any, of successful expansions.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; EARLY DENTAL PREVENTION; DENTAL
OPERATORY EXPANSION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2017, from the general
fund to the commissioner of health for the development and distribution of the early dental
prevention initiative under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.3875.
new text end

new text begin (b) $2,000,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2016 from the general fund to the
commissioner of health for dental operatory expansion grants. This is a onetime
appropriation and shall be available until expended.
new text end