An Act To Increase the Use of Dental Services by MaineCare-eligible Children
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1704
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: VITELLI, CRAVEN, JOHNSON, LACHOWICZ, PATRICK, FARNSWORTH, VOLK
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-S

Legislative Document 
No. 1704 
S.P. 669 
In Senate, January 8, 2014 
An Act To Increase the Use of Dental Services by MaineCare-
eligible Children 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc. 
Cosponsored by Senators: CRAVEN of Androscoggin, JOHNSON of Lincoln, LACHOWICZ 
of Kennebec, PATRICK of Oxford, Representatives: FARNSWORTH of Portland, VOLK of 
Scarborough. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-S, sub-§§5 and 6 are enacted to read: 
5.  Number of children receiving dental services.  Beginning in January 2016, the 
report under subsection 4 must include the number of children treated annually under the 
Medicaid program and the dental services provided to these children. 
6.  Report on children eligible to participate in the Medicaid program not 
receiving dental services.  The department, through the department's office of 
MaineCare services, shall prepare and provide to the commissioner a quarterly report 
containing the names of children from birth to 20 years of age who are eligible to 
participate in the Medicaid program and have not received dental services from a 
provider of dental services participating in the Medicaid program. 
Sec. 2.  Pilot program to increase use of dental services by MaineCare-
eligible children.  The Department of Health and Human Services, through the 
department’s office of MaineCare services, in cooperation with the dental care 
community, shall establish a pilot program to increase the use of dental services by 
MaineCare-eligible children.  The office shall examine the report prepared pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-S, subsection 6 to identify for 
participation in the pilot program MaineCare-eligible children who have not received 
dental services in the previous year.  The pilot program must: 
1.  Work with the dental care community to identify appropriate providers; 
2.  Assist in arranging treatment for children who have not received dental services 
that are in the report; and 
3.  Employ an oral health coordinator who assists the MaineCare caseworkers in 
providing the services to eligible children. 
Sec. 3.  Report.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a 
report, including findings and recommendations, on the pilot program under section 2 to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters no later than November 5, 2014.  The joint standing committee may 
report out a bill related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-S to require the 
Department of Health and Human Services to include in its annual report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters the number of MaineCare-eligible children who receive dental services annually 
and what services they are provided and also to report quarterly to the Commissioner of 
Health and Human Services the names of MaineCare-eligible children from birth to 20 
years of age who are not receiving dental services.  The bill directs the Department of 
Health and Human Services, through the department's office of MaineCare services in 
cooperation with the dental care community, to design a pilot program to increase the use 
of dental services by MaineCare-eligible children.  The bill also requires the Department 
of Health and Human Services to submit a report regarding the pilot program to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters no later than November 5, 2014.  The joint standing committee may report out a 
bill to the First Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.