Legislation of Interest
MDAC has provided testimony on a number of issues including: preserving funding for the Fund for a Healthy Maine (Maine's tobacco settlement dollars) for oral health programs and services, improving Maine's MaineCare Program, and the implications of dental education loan programs and licensure changes.
Here are some links for effective advocacy:
- A guide to being an effective constituent: How to Communicate with your Legislator
- Understanding how a bill gets made: http://www.state.me.us/legis/lawlib/billpath.htm
- How to find out who your State Representatives are: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm
- Home of the Maine State legislature and how to find an LD: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/
Oral Health Bills from the 124th Maine Legislative Session 9 end June 2009)
LD 624 Resolve, to Implement Certain recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Expanding Access to Oral Health Care for Maine People. was MDAC's primary bill this past session. At the end of the day, after lots of work and many twists along the way, the bill was carried over to be reconsidered in the next legislative session. Given the extreme reluctance of the Appropriations Committee to to approve anything with any money attached, the fact that the bill remains alive for another day constitutes a victory of sorts.
LD 13 An Act To Expand the Diagnostic Functions of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists This bill expands the diagnostic functions of an independent practice dental hygienist by allowing an independent practice dental hygienist to perform x rays and to own x-ray equipment. Committee vote: ought not to pass.
LD 100 An Act To Improve Oral Health Care for Maine's Children This bill expands health screening in schools to include oral health screening. The bill requires oral health screening for students prior to entering kindergarten and for new students to a school district entering grades 1 to 6 and periodically thereafter. The bill coordinates oral health screening done under the new requirement with oral health screening done through a grant program with the Department of Health and Human Services. This Bill passed with an amendment.
LD 177 An Act To Modify the Maine Dental Education Loan Program This bill allows the Finance Authority of Maine to make more than 3 loans or loan repayment agreements annually under the Maine Dental Education Loan Program if funds permit. Passed.
LD 233 An Act To Include Independent Practice Dental Hygienists in MaineCare This bill provides for reimbursement under the MaineCare program to directly reimburse dental hygienists practicing independently. The bill was amended to specify hygienists working for FQHC's and carried over to the next session because of the fiscal note.
LD 234 An Act To Expand Access to Oral Health Care This bill requires dental insurers and health insurers and health maintenance organizations that include coverage for dental services in their policies and contracts to provide coverage for dental services performed by an independent practice dental hygienist if those services would be covered under the policy or contract and those services are within the lawful scope of practice of the independent practice dental hygienist. This was passed with an amendment requiring the Bureau of Insurance to report back in 2013 on how the bill is working.Oral Health Bills from the 123rd Maine Legislative Session (end April 2008)
LD 2277 An Act Regarding the Sunrise Review of Oral Health Care Issues, enacted as Public Law, Ch. 620 Title 32 Professions and Occupations. This law creates a new license category of Independent Practice Dental Hygienist and authorizes an independent practice dental hygienist to perform specified procedures without supervision by a dentist. It also requires an independent practice dental hygienist to provide a patient with a referral plan to a dentist for any necessary dental care.
LD 2192 An Act To Increase Access to Dental Care, enacted as PL Chapter 690,Title 36, Taxation. This creates an income tax credit of up to $15,000 beginning in 2009 for up to 5 new dentists in 2009 and 5 additional dentists in 2010 who agree to practice in underserved areas of the State for at least 5 years and requires DHHS (through the Oral Health Program) to certify eligibility and to report on the effectiveness of the tax incentive in 2011. This bill sunsets in 2015 when the 5 years ends for those initiating the benefit in 2010.
LD 1984 An Act To Provide a State Income Tax Deduction to Dentists for Military Pensions, enacted as Public Law, Chapter 689, Title 36, Taxation. This provides a tax deduction to dentists with military pension benefits for dentists who practice for an average of at least 20 hours per week during the tax year and who accept patients who receive benefits under the MaineCare program.
Oral Health and MaineCare
Members of the oral health community were invited to speak to the Health & Human Services Committee on October 30,2007 about MaineCare and oral health services. The presentations from representatives from MDAC, DHHS, the Maine Dental Association and the Maine Equal Justice Partners are available through these links.
