In this subtitle, “Program” means the Oral Health Safety Net Program.
There is an Oral Health Safety Net Program in the Office of Oral Health in the Department.
The purpose of the Program is to provide start–up funding to expand oral health capacity for underserved low–income and disabled individuals, including individuals enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and in the Maryland Children’s Health Program.
The Office of Oral Health shall solicit proposals from local health departments, federally qualified health centers, and entities providing dental services within State facilities, for the purpose of issuing grants to support collaborative and innovative ways to increase dental provider capacity for the underserved.
Subject to the limitations of the State budget, the Office of Oral Health shall:
Award grants; and
Oversee the operation of the Program.
The Office of Oral Health shall place priority on awarding grants to proposals that:
Are targeted to regions of the State where oral health services are most scarce for low–income, disabled, and Medicaid populations; and
Outline how the potential grantee will maximize limited resources, including:
Sharing of resources with other persons;
Case management to eliminate barriers to dental services;
Public–private purchasing agreements;
Obtaining matching funds to increase resources;
Incentives to increase provider participation;
Quantifiable outcome measures of success;
School–based screenings; and
Plans to ensure sustainability of services after termination of grants awarded under this subtitle.
Subject to the limitations of the State budget, the Office of Oral Health shall:
Contract with a licensed dentist to provide expertise in dental public health issues for the Office; and
Provide for appropriate continuing education courses for providers that offer oral health treatment to underserved populations.
The Office of Oral Health shall conduct an annual evaluation of the Program.
The evaluation required under this subsection shall include:
Data on any progress resulting from each grant awarded under this subtitle;
Data on any progress of the overall Program;
Data demonstrating any increase in the use of restorative dental care among underserved populations; and
Data from any statewide survey conducted by the Department that demonstrates any progress of the Program.
The Department, in conjunction with the Office of Oral Health, shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on or before November 1 of each year on:
The results of the Program;
Findings and recommendations for the Oral Health Program and any other oral health programs established under Title 18, Subtitle 8 of this article;
The availability and accessibility of dentists throughout the State participating in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program;
The outcomes that managed care organizations and dental managed care organizations under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program achieve concerning the utilization of targets required by the Five Year Oral Health Care Plan, including:
Loss ratios that the managed care organizations and dental managed care organizations experience for providing dental services; and
Corrective action by managed care organizations and dental managed care organizations to achieve the utilization targets; and
The allocation and use of funds authorized for dental services under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.
It is the intent of the General Assembly:
That grants shall be awarded through the Program from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, for fiscal year 2009; and
That full funding for grants shall continue in the subsequent two fiscal years unless the Office of Oral Health determines that a grantee is not fulfilling the conditions of the award.
The Department shall conduct a statewide follow–up survey on or before June 1, 2011, concerning the oral health status of school children in the State.