Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 297 - DENTAL CARE ACCESS CREDIT PROGRAM › Section 144-297-1 - PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Purpose.
This rule describes the requirements and conditions under which eligible
				dentists qualify for the Dental Care Access Credit, in accordance with
				36 MRS
				§5219-DD.
B.
Definitions.
Unless otherwise
				indicated, the following terms shall have the following meanings specific to
				the Dental Care Access Credit Program as authorized by
				36 M.R.S.
				§5219-DD.
1.
Clinical Oral Health Services
means the full range of dental services, including preventive, pediatric,
				restorative, surgical, orthodontic, endodontic, and prosthodontic
				services.
2.
Competitive
				Order of Receipt Process
means the process by which timely, complete
				applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis according to
				the receipt by the Department of applications postmarked within the
				time-limited submission period set forth in this rule. Applications with
				postmarks within the time-limited submission period are prioritized according
				to the stamped date and time (hour, minute, second) the Department received the
				application.
3.
Credit
				Certificate
means the official letter of notification sent to an
				Eligible Dentist by the Department indicating that the individual is eligible
				for the Dental Care Access Credit.
4.
Dental Care Access Credit
means the Maine income tax credit under
				36 MRS
				§5219-DD that may be applied to an
				Eligible Dentist's individual state income tax liability.
5.
Dental Practice
means a
				privately-owned Dental Practice and public or private non-profit dental clinic
				or dental center, whether free-standing or operated by another organization or
				agency.
6.
Department
means the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for
				Disease Control and Prevention, Rural Health and Primary Care
				Program.
7.
Dentist
means a person licensed as a dentist under 32 MRS Ch. 143, to practice
				dentistry in the State of Maine. Notwithstanding the definition of "person" in
				36 MRS
				§111(3), for purposes
				of eligibility for the Dental Care Access Credit Program, a "person" is defined
				as an individual.
8.
Eligible
				Dentist
means an individual licensed as a dentist under
				32 MRS
				§§18301 -
				18393
				who, after January 1, 2009:
a. First began
				practicing dentistry in the State of Maine by joining an existing Dental
				Practice in an Underserved Area by establishing a new Dental Practice, or by
				purchasing an existing Dental Practice in an Underserved Area;
b. Agrees to accept new MaineCare members
				into their practice and contibute to provide dental care for their existing
				MaineCare members;
c. Agrees to
				practice full time for at least five years in an Underserved Area;
				and
d. Is certified to be eligible
				by the Department.
9.
Full-Time
means a dentist who practices at least 40 hours per week
				in a designated Underserved Area providing clinical dental services, as defined
				by the HRSA National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Fiscal Year
				2020, Application and Program Guidance and is incorporated by reference in this
				rule.
10.
Underserved
				Area
means an area in the State of Maine that is a dental health
				professional shortage area as defined by the federal Department of Health and
				Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). A list of
				current federally designated dental health professional shortage areas is
				maintained by HRSA and may be found at:
https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/hpsa
.