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House moves Medicaid dental waiver effective date to July and allows contracting flexibility, says sponsor
Summary
Senate Bill 274 was passed to shift the Medicaid dental-waiver effective date to July 1, 2017, aligning implementation with the fiscal year and to give the Department of Health flexibility to change contracting after the first year. Sponsor said the bill will help about 34,000 disabled adults. Vote: 73–0.
The House passed an amendment to the Medicaid dental-waiver schedule that moves the program’s effective date to July 1 to align with the fiscal year and gives the Department of Health authority to adjust dental-provider contracting after the first year.
Representative Eliason, floor sponsor, said the waiver was restored in a prior session with delayed implementation; the change aligns implementation timing with available funding. "It's an important bill that will help about 34,000 disabled adults with their dental needs," Eliason said on the House floor.
The measure also authorizes the Department of Health to modify contracting methods after the first year of implementation. Supporters said the change will reduce administrative friction and enable the program to be implemented more smoothly.
First substitute Senate Bill 274 passed the House by voice and recorded vote, 73 yes, 0 no, and will be returned to the Senate for signature.
