Subcommittee advances Senate Bill 230 to expand time for veterans’ dental intake screening to 60 days

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development voted to send Senate Bill 230 to the full Ways and Means Committee with a due-pass recommendation after an Oregon Health Authority presentation on the Veterans Dental Program.

Mary Michelle Sosni of the Oregon Health Authority told the committee that the Veterans Dental Program began providing services on Jan. 1, 2023, and that roughly 3,600 veterans were enrolled at the time of the presentation, with enrollment increasing about 4% per month. “The measure requires providers to complete an initial intake screening within 60 days of the enrollees first contact. OHA expects to incorporate this change into the program requirements without any additional costs,” Sosni said.

The measure is intended to fill dental coverage gaps for veterans who do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or the federal Veterans Dental Program; the 60-day intake requirement had been reduced from a longer period at a prior stage in the legislative process, committee members said.

Co-chair Gomberg moved the LFO recommendation to advance the bill; the motion carried without recorded roll-call in the transcript. Committee members identified carriers for the Senate and House floors: Senator Manning was nominated for the Senate and Representative Javidy was asked to carry the measure in the House.

The LFO recommendation attached no additional fiscal cost to the 60-day intake requirement. Committee discussion noted testimony had been provided in an earlier veterans affairs committee and at least one witness who supported the measure was present.