BILL NUMBER: SB 377	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  643
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 7, 2005
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 7, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 2, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 5, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 16, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ortiz

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2005

   An act relating to health care coverage, and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 377, Ortiz  Medi-Cal: dental services.
   Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the
State Department of Health Services, that provides certain benefits
to qualified recipients. Certain dental services are covered Medi-Cal
benefits.
   This bill would declare that the Legislature has appropriated
money in the Budget Act of 2001 and each subsequent Budget Act
thereafter, for the provision under the Medi-Cal program of
nonemergency benefits for the prevention and treatment of dental and
periodontal disease for beneficiaries during pregnancy to prevent
premature deliveries and low-birth weights. The bill would require
the department to immediately implement the provision of these
services by informing Denti-Cal and other Medi-Cal providers through
provider bulletins that these benefits are included for pregnant
beneficiaries. The bill would require the department to adopt
regulations to implement the provision of these services on or before
January 1, 2008, and would provide that implementation by provider
bulletin of this provision shall not be delayed pending the adoption
of these regulations.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  (a) In the Budget Act of 2001 and each subsequent
Budget Act thereafter, the Legislature has appropriated money for the
provision under the Medi-Cal program of nonemergency benefits for
the prevention and treatment of dental and periodontal disease for
beneficiaries during pregnancy to prevent premature deliveries and
low-birth weights.
   (b) These preventive and treatment dental services for pregnant
women result in net savings to the Medi-Cal program by avoiding the
far more costly medical and other interventions needed to treat and
care for premature and low-birth weight disabled newborns immediately
at birth and throughout life.
   (c) It is the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm its commitment
to the provision of the benefits described in subdivision (a) for
which money has consistently been appropriated.
   (d) Therefore, the State Department of Health Services shall
immediately implement the provision of services described in
subdivision (a) by clearly informing Denti-Cal and other Medi-Cal
providers through a provider bulletin or bulletins that the services
described in subdivision (a) are included Medi-Cal benefits for
pregnant beneficiaries.
   (e) (1) On or before January 1, 2008, the department shall adopt
regulations in accordance with the rulemaking requirements of Chapter
3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
2 of the Government Code to implement the provision of services
described in subdivision (a).
   (2) Notwithstanding the rulemaking requirements of Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code, the implementation by provider bulletin
required under subdivision (d) shall not be delayed pending the
adoption of administrative regulations.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to receive needed prevention
and treatment benefits for dental and periodontal disease during
pregnancy, so as to prevent premature deliveries and low birth
weight, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.