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The 26th Alaska State Legislature, 2009 - 2010  Share This Page on Facebook Email This Sponsor Statement Print Friendly Version  Majority RSS Feeds
Sponsor Statement: House Bill 26

Medicaid For Adult Dental Services

Ak Legislative MajorityAk Legislative Majority
Rep. Mike Hawker R-27
Ak Legislative Majority

Rep. Mike Hawker (R-27)
Chair, (L) LEC Com.
Ak Majority Organization

Ak Majority Organization

“Repealing the repeal of preventative and restorative adult dental services reimbursement under Medicaid; providing for an effective date by repealing the effective date of sec. 3, ch. 52, SLA 2006; and providing for an effective date.”


Posted: January 26, 2009
Status: Chapter 35 SLA 09 : 2009-06-20


House Bill 26 would extend the current Medicaid Adult Dental program, which is scheduled to sunset this year. In 2006, the legislature passed House Bill 105, which restructured our approach to adult dental services allowed under Medicaid to provide a more complete level of services.

Prior to 2006, adults on Medicaid could only receive emergency care to relieve pain and fight infection. The passage of HB 105 authorized exams, cleaning, tooth restoration or extraction and dentures. In short, Alaska moved from a "Deferred Maintenance" to a "Preventative Maintenance" approach for adult dental care.

In order to have a chance to assess the viability of the program, the legislature added a sunset to the program of June 30, 2009. House Bill 26 would remove the sunset, allowing the program to become permanent.

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2009-03-27 : [AUDIO] Rep. Hawker Explains How Preventative Dental Care Avoids Costly Dental Care in the Future
•  Download Audio  [MP3:249KB]




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