Legislative Agenda

In light of Illinois’ expanding budget crisis, we will focus our 2010 legislative agenda on increasing dental funding using a variety of incremental strategies that include:

• Specialty rate increases
• Disproportionate care bonuses
• Pilot programs in specific underserved areas of the state
  
  2010 Legislation
• Over the last two years the Bridge to Healthy Smiles campaign has aggressively been pursuing legislative changes to address the dental access issue in Illinois. The intention of introducing Senate Bill 3302 is to continue to explore innovated ways to achieve increased provider participation so more Illinois children and adults have access to dental care.

  Senate Bill 3302 – Medicaid Provider Incentives – SB 3302 Amends the Children’s Health Insurance Act, covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, and Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2010, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop incentive programs for dentists who perform dental services on adults and children covered under the respective Acts. The Medicaid provider incentives include:
  

  1. Increase funding levels for specialty dental treatment
     

  2. Offer incentive bonuses to dentists who increase the number of Medicaid patients
     

  3. Develop a pilot program in six designated shortage areas that increases rates up to 64 percent of the reimbursement level.