86R22298 JG-D
 
  By: Deshotel, Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1647
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1647:
 
  By:  Noble C.S.H.B. No. 1647
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the development of a dental services benefit under
  Medicaid for adult recipients with disabilities and a pilot program
  to provide those services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.0545 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.0545.  DENTAL SERVICES BENEFIT FOR CERTAIN
  RECIPIENTS; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall develop a
  dental services benefit under the medical assistance program for
  adult recipients with disabilities. The dental services benefit
  must be:
               (1)  cost-effective and designed to achieve cost
  savings;
               (2)  designed to reduce emergency room visits by or
  hospitalizations of adult recipients with disabilities resulting
  from a lack of access to dental services; and
               (3)  designed to meet the individual needs of adult
  recipients with disabilities.
         (b)  In developing the dental services benefit under this
  section, the commission shall evaluate dental services benefits
  provided under medical assistance waiver programs authorized under
  Section 1115 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section
  1315) and dental services benefits provided as a value-added
  service under the Medicaid managed care delivery model.
         (c)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the commission shall
  prepare and submit to the legislature a written report on the dental
  services benefit developed under this section.
         (d)  The commission may establish and operate a pilot program
  to provide the dental services benefit developed under this section
  in one or more geographic areas of this state. The pilot program
  must conclude not later than September 1, 2022. If the commission
  establishes the pilot program under this section, the commission
  shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written report that
  summarizes the results of the pilot program not later than December
  1, 2022.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
  a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
  federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
  the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
  authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
  waiver or authorization is granted.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.