2023 New York Laws › PBH - Public Health › Article 29-A - Access to Community Health Care Services in Rural Areas › Title 1-A - Rural Dentistry Pilot Program › 2958-A - Rural Dentistry Pilot Program.

§  2958-a.  Rural  dentistry pilot program. 1. The commissioner shall,
within monies appropriated therefore, establish a rural dentistry  pilot
program   in   Chautauqua,   Allegany,  and  Cattaraugus  counties.  The
commissioner shall, in  coordination  with  the  University  of  Buffalo
School of Dentistry study cost savings achieved through the provision of
dental services in geographically isolated and underserved areas. Such a
study shall determine:
(i)  the  quality  of  care  provided  through a mobile dental system,
including minimizing any adverse effects  on  dental  practices  already
serving  or  seeking  to  enter  rural  or  underserved communities, the
involvement of dental practices serving rural or underserved communities
in such a mobile  dental  system,  and  the  establishment  of  referral
systems  and  networks  to  existing  dental  practices serving rural or
underserved communities for regular ongoing care of patients;
(ii) cost savings achieved through targeted oral health initiatives in
rural areas;
(iii)  corollaries  between  preventative  dental  care  and  improved
patient outcomes in rural areas;
(iv)  knowledge, attitude, and behavior outcomes among dental students
and recommendations for rural dental health education curriculum;
(v) a profile of the participants, the number of persons  served,  and
health care disparities;
(vi) a description of the activities of the program;
(vii) guidance on facilitated participation in rural areas;
(viii) provider shortages in rural areas;
(ix)  a description of the impact of the programs on the community and
recommendations for replication/improvement in other rural areas; and
(x) such other activities as the commissioner may deem  necessary  and
appropriate to this section.
2.  Twelve  months  after  the  approval  of the rural dentistry pilot
program, and annually  thereafter,  the  program  shall  report  to  the
commissioner  on  the  progress  of  the program. The commissioner shall
evaluate the findings of the study  and  report  to  the  governor,  the
temporary  president  of  the  senate,  the speaker of the assembly, the
chair of the senate standing committee  on  health,  the  chair  of  the
assembly health committee and the chair of the legislative commission on
rural resources on its findings.
3.  Additionally,  to  the  extent  of  funds  appropriated therefore,
medical assistance funds, including any funding or shared savings as may
become available through  federal  waivers  or  otherwise  under  titles
eighteen  and  nineteen  of the federal social security act, may be used
for expenditures in support of the demonstration program.
4. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law to the  contrary,
the   commissioner  is  authorized  to  waive,  modify  or  suspend  the
provisions of rules and  regulations  promulgated  pursuant  to  article
twenty-eight  of  this  chapter if the commissioner determines that such
waiver, modification or  suspension  is  necessary  for  the  successful
implementing of the rural dentistry pilot program authorized pursuant to
this  section  and  provided  that  the commissioner determines that the
health, safety and general welfare of people receiving health care under
such rural dentistry pilot program will not be impaired as a  result  of
such waiver, modification, or suspension.