Bill > H4352

This bill proposes to expand dental care coverage for senior citizens by amending Chapter 118E of the General Laws, which governs the Division of Medical Assistance, often referred to as MassHealth. Specifically, it seeks to add "Dental Services, all dental services including dentures, restorative, endodontic, and periodontal treatment" to the list of covered services. Dentures are artificial teeth, restorative treatment addresses decay or damage, endodontic treatment deals with the inside of the tooth (like root canals), and periodontal treatment focuses on gum health. The bill also mandates that the Division of Medical Assistance include all federally optional services that were part of its state plan or demonstration program as of January 1, 2002, for adults aged 65 and older, explicitly including all dental services. Furthermore, it ensures that dental services for adults in the MassHealth Essential program will be covered to the same extent as they were for adults in the MassHealth Basic program on January 1, 2002, aiming to provide more comprehensive dental benefits to older residents.