Bill > S888

This bill aims to increase access to dental services for MassHealth (Massachusetts' Medicaid program) beneficiaries aged 21 and older by creating a new financial incentive for dental providers. The legislation would establish supplemental payments of $31 per patient encounter for eligible dental providers who increase their number of MassHealth patients by at least ten compared to the previous year. These supplemental payments will be available only to dentists and public health dental hygienists licensed in Massachusetts who are enrolled as MassHealth providers and who practice in ten specific municipalities designated by the secretary of health and human services as having high MassHealth enrollment but low dental service utilization. The payments are subject to appropriation and can be re-evaluated by the health and human services secretary. To qualify, providers must meet specific criteria including being licensed, MassHealth-enrolled, increasing their MassHealth patient load, and practicing in the designated municipalities. The secretary of health and human services is tasked with developing regulations to implement the program, using data on MassHealth enrollment and service utilization to determine eligible locations.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S888