California Dental Association Legislative Update Policy Initiatives October 2006

Oral Health Assessments for Schoolchildren (AB 1433) Provides education on the importance of oral health Connects children with dental professionals that can provide care Assists in enrollment into existing government benefit programs Maximizes existing systems of care and reimbursement - including federal dollars before creating new systems Collects specific data for further advocacy and policy development

Policy specifics Parents are notified upon initial entry into public school, at kindergarten or first grade, that a their child should have his/her oral health assessed by a dental professional by May 31 st of that school year. Assessments completed in the prior 12 months satisfy this requirement.

Policy specifics Notification includes: –Specifics of assessment requirement –Education on the importance of primary teeth oral health to overall health and readiness to learn –Contact information for government benefit programs and county health department –Standardized screening protocol (ASTDD) –Waiver form

Policy specifics By May 31, parents return either –Completed assessment, or –Waiver request identifying barriers Requirement poses an undue financial burden Inability to find dental professional to do assessment Parent does not want child’s oral health assessed

Policy specifics Data reported –Number of children eligible for assessment –Number assessed –Number with untreated decay –Number not assessed Due to lack of insurance Unable to find provider

Data Distribution Schools will report aggregate data to the County Department of Education CDA will facilitate distribution to other interested agencies, including County/local Health Departments and the State Office of Oral Health

First Step Policy is intended as a first step in raising awareness, elevating importance of oral health and promoting change Further policy and program development needed to meet the needs of California’s children

Opportunity for change CDDP programs are in many of the schools where access to oral health care is a challenge Partnerships with CDDP programs will be opportunities to expand the preventive care underserved children receive

Other legislation and policy SB 1403 –Removes the pre-treatment radiographic requirement in the Denti-Cal program for claims for children under 4 years old and developmentally disabled patients. –Instead, allows intraoral photographic documentation to prove medical necessity for treatment provided

Other legislation and policy In-Office General Anesthesia –Low reimbursement to dental anesthesiologists for in-office GA administration significantly restricts access to this service –Law requires dental anesthesiologists to be reimbursed at same rate as MD anesthesiologists. This correction should improve access to in-office GA and reduce backlog for hospital OR time

Other legislation and policy In-Office General Anesthesia –CDA, CSPD and dental anesthesiologists advocated expansion of GA benefits within Healthy Families Program –May 2006,Healthy Families Advisory panel unanimously decide to recommend to MRMIB that in-office GA become a Healthy Families Benefit