Rural Health Demonstration Projects can alleviate some of these challenges by providing rate enhancements, expanding hours, providing additional staff, providing mobile health and dental vans, and utilizing telemedicine services. Mr. Leiva asked that plans begin considering proposals to submit for next year. Julie Day representing Delta Dental expressed concern that dental plans are facing a problem of establishing a clinic with Rural Health Demonstration funds and then being unable to sustain the clinic because of lack of funding for the next year. Ms. Shewry responded that the Board may consider exploring longer funding cycles, but that this change would likely need to be approved by the legislature. Federal Legislation Update Mr. Anderson explained that states will receive an allotment to fund the S-CHIP program for ten years.
States have three years to draw down funds for each federal fiscal year allotment.
Therefore, the program is not in jeopardy of being closed. Governor Davis signed the bill. He also signed a bill allowing Medi-Cal to establish a twelve month continuous eligibility policy. However, AB 1015 does not provide guidance as to how the program should be established. David Pisani representing Delta Dental asked if the Governor has a deadline for submitting the waiver.