Resolve, To Study Oral Health Care in Maine and Make Recommendations Regarding How To Address Maine's Oral Health Care Needs

Preamble. Whereas,  many Mainers face barriers to oral health care; and

Whereas,  parts of each of Maine's 16 counties have been identified as federally designated dental health professional shortage areas; and

Whereas,  there is no single answer to addressing Maine's oral health care needs; and

Whereas,  ongoing challenges to Maine's oral health care needs include reimbursement, geography, personal decisions, workforce issues and many other factors; and

Whereas,  the Legislature has in recent years sought to address Maine's oral health care needs through changes to the dental workforce and scopes of practice; and

Whereas,  no comprehensive study has been completed regarding Maine's oral health care needs or the effect of the legislative changes and evaluations of strategies to address the outstanding needs; and

Whereas,  this resolve directs the Executive Director of the Legislative Council to designate Medical Care Development, Inc. to contract with a qualified consultant to conduct a study of Maine's oral health care needs; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Oral health care needs; study. Resolved: That the Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall request Medical Care Development, Inc. to conduct a study, without any cost to the State, pursuant to this resolve. Medical Care Development, Inc. shall solicit funds to pay for the cost of the study. Upon receiving adequate funding, Medical Care Development, Inc. shall contract with a qualified consultant that has sufficient resources and experience to perform a study of the State's oral health care needs that examines the type and geographic distribution of oral health care providers and analyzes barriers to oral health care in the State. The Department of Health and Human Services shall cooperate with Medical Care Development, Inc. by providing assistance in obtaining relevant information and data. In conducting the study, Medical Care Development, Inc. shall invite the input of members of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and shall seek the advice of statewide organizations representing dentists, dental hygienists, low-income persons, federally qualified health centers and dental clinics. The study may reference or incorporate information from other relevant research. The study must specifically examine and report on:

1. Existing public and private financial resources for oral health care in the State;

2. Limitations on access to oral health care for citizens of the State;

3. The sustainability of public financing programs for oral health care;

4. The actual and projected dental workforce needs for the State;

5. The effect of recent changes surrounding oral health care in the State, such as the development of a dental school based in the State and the creation of expanded function dental assistants, dental hygienists with public health supervision status and independent practice dental hygienists; and

6. Possible policy models from other states and countries that have been effective in addressing identified workforce shortages; and be it further

Sec. 2. Funding. Resolved: That Medical Care Development, Inc. shall seek nonstate funding to fully fund all costs of the study requested in section 1. The Department of Health and Human Services shall assist Medical Care Development, Inc. in seeking nonstate funding, including collaborating in seeking any available federal grant funds. State funds may not be expended to conduct the study. The study must be completed and the report submitted by Medical Care Development, Inc., with recommendations as appropriate for each issue, no later than January 1, 2012 to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.