Gov. Rick Scott Signs HB 819, 'Sunset Review of Medicaid Dental Services'

Secretary Kenneth W. Detzner
Secretary of State
Florida Department of State
R.A. Gray Building
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Dear Secretary Detzner:

By the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Florida, under the provisions of Article III, Section 8, of the Constitution of Florida, I do hereby approve House Bill 819, enacted during the 118th Session of the Legislature of Florida, during the Regular Session of 2016 and entitled:

An act relating to the sunset review of Medicaid Dental Services…

The implementation of Statewide Medicaid Managed Care has resulted in expanded adult dental benefits for Medicaid recipients at no additional cost to taxpayers. Prior to Statewide Medicaid Managed Care, adult preventative dental benefits were not covered under Florida’s Medicaid program. Additionally, data from the Agency for Health Care Administration demonstrates that plans providing dental services within Statewide Medicaid Managed Care are operating at their highest ever performance levels in Florida and the cost per member is at the lowest in the past decade.

This bill directs the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to study the effectiveness of the managed care plans in providing dental care. Additionally, the bill provides for a default, in the absence of legislative action, carve-out of dental benefits from Statewide Medicaid Managed Care. During the recent months, Senator Negron, Representative Diaz, and I maintained an open dialogue regarding the impact of this legislation. While I am giving my approval to this bill today, if the results of the study do not demonstrate better quality dental care at reduced costs than the net benefits provided under Statewide Medicaid Managed Care today, I expect the 2017 Legislature to amend the statute immediately to protect Medicaid recipients and the services they receive through Statewide Medicaid Managed Care.

For the reasons stated above, I hereby grant approval of House Bill 819.

Sincerely,

Rick Scott
Governor

(See a PDF of the bill here.)

Tags: Government/Politics & Law