Bryan Townsend
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 11
Delaware is one of only 3 states that does not offer some form of adult dental coverage through Medicaid (alongside Tennessee and Alabama). Dental care is health care. And, studies have shown that poor dental health care can result in serious infections and abscess in the face, neck, and jaw areas requiring some individuals to go to the emergency room where they may spend days in intensive care or even die. This ultimately costs states more money through their Medicaid program that could be saved if dental care were covered. This Act expands Delaware's Public Assistance Code to provide dental care to all eligible adult Medicaid recipients. Payments for dental care treatments are subject to a $3 recipient copay and the total amount of dental care assistance provided to an eligible recipient may not exceed $1,000 per year, except that an additional $1,500 may be authorized on an emergency basis for dental care treatments through a review process established by the Department of Health and Social Services. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. This Substitute Act differs from Senate Bill No. 92 (150th General Assembly) because it changes the effective date of this Act to be April 1, 2020, and removes provisions made unnecessary by the change.
Signed by Governor
Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 7 NO 1 ABSENT
Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 5 On Its Merits
Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 7 On Its Merits
Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 92
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Fiscal Note |
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