An Act To Improve Access to Dental Care in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0474
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GATTINE, BURNS, CHIPMAN, FARNSWORTH, HEAD, SANBORN, STUCKEY, WALLACE, GRATWICK, WHITTEMORE
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-F

Legislative Document 
No. 474 
H.P. 313 
House of Representatives, February 24, 2015 
An Act To Improve Access to Dental Care in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative GATTINE of Westbrook. 
Cosponsored by Senator BURNS of Washington and 
Representatives: CHIPMAN of Portland, FARNSWORTH of Portland, HEAD of Bethel, 
SANBORN of Gorham, STUCKEY of Portland, WALLACE of Dexter, Senators: 
GRATWICK of Penobscot, WHITTEMORE of Somerset. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-F, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 1997, c. 159, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
D.  Treatment Diagnostic services and related treatment necessary to relieve pain, 
eliminate infection or prevent imminent tooth loss; and 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3174-F, sub-§1, ¶F, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 159, §2, is 
amended to read: 
F.  Other dental Dental services, including full and partial dentures, medically 
necessary to correct or ameliorate an underlying medical condition, if the department 
determines that provision of those services will be cost-effective in comparison to the 
provision of other covered medical services for the treatment of that condition.; 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §3174-F, sub-§1, ¶¶G and H are enacted to read: 
G.  Dental services including diagnostic and preventive services to pregnant women 
and postpartum women for one year after delivery to ameliorate conditions or reduce 
complications that exist because of or are exacerbated by the pregnancy or that, if left 
untreated, could adversely affect fetal or child development; and 
H.  Dental services necessary to avoid more costly medical or dental care when 
authorized by the department in accordance with rules adopted by the department. 
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §3174-F, sub-§§3 and 4 are enacted to read: 
3.  Notice to MaineCare members.  The department shall provide notice of dental 
benefits available under this section to an individual when the individual enrolls as an 
adult member of MaineCare. 
4.  Notice to providers.  Annually, the department shall provide to providers of 
services under this section educational opportunities relating to the scope of benefits 
covered and administrative requirements.  Such educational opportunities may be 
delivered by electronic newsletters, educational training meetings, policy briefings and 
fact sheets. 
Sec. 5.  Notice to MaineCare members.  By November 1, 2015, the Department 
of Health and Human Services shall provide to MaineCare members notice of adult 
dental benefits available under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-F, 
subsection 1. 
Sec. 6.  Written notice to providers.  By November 1, 2015, the Department of 
Health and Human Services shall provide to providers of dental care enrolled as 
MaineCare providers written notice of adult dental benefits available under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-F, subsection 1. 
Sec. 7.  Rulemaking; stakeholder group. 
1.  Rulemaking.  By October 1, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services  
shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, 
section 3174-F, subsection 1, paragraphs D, G and H.  When adopting rules to implement 
paragraph H, the department shall consider dental services identified by a stakeholder 
group pursuant to subsection 2.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine 
technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
2.  Stakeholder group.  Prior to adopting rules pursuant to subsection 1 to 
implement the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-F, 
subsection 1, paragraph H, the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene 
a stakeholder group to identify dental services necessary to avoid more costly medical or 
dental care.  The stakeholder group must consist of members representing dentists, 
federally qualified health centers, consumers, dental hygienists, hospitals and a clinical 
health system with experience in adult oral health initiatives. 
Sec. 8.  Effective date.  Those sections of this Act that amend the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-F take effect October 5, 2015. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides MaineCare coverage for dental services including diagnostic and 
preventive services to pregnant and postpartum women and dental services necessary to 
avoid more costly medical or dental care as identified by a stakeholder group.  It requires 
the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information concerning adult 
dental benefits to adult MaineCare members and providers.  It requires the department to 
adopt rules relating to the dental coverage by October 1, 2015.