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S 888

Relates to incarcerated individuals wages

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Luis Sepúlveda

Offers a $31 per-visit bonus to MassHealth dentists in up to 10 high-need towns for each extra adult MassHealth patient served, boosting 21+ dental access.

REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · S 888

Summary — S. 888 (Senate No. 888, Docket No. 1960)

Title in text: "An Act increasing access to MassHealth dental providers"
Sponsor(s) in bill text: Senator Paul W. Mark (petition also lists Joanne M. Comerford)
Filed: January 17, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1960, Senate No. 888)

Note on source material: the materials provided include unrelated or inconsistent inserts (other states’ bill language and mixed legislative-action entries). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text titled “An Act increasing access to MassHealth dental providers,” which is the substantive legislation in the file.

Purpose / Intent

To increase access to dental care for MassHealth enrollees age 21 and older by creating a targeted supplemental payment incentive for dental providers who expand the number of adult MassHealth patients they serve in designated high-need municipalities.

Key provisions

  • Inserts a new Section 83 into Chapter 118E (MassHealth law).
  • Supplemental payment eligibility:
    • MassHealth shall provide supplemental payments, subject to appropriation, to participating dental providers who in a given year serve at least 10 more MassHealth beneficiaries age 21+ than they served in the prior year.
  • Payment mechanics:
    • Initial supplemental payment set at $31.
    • Distributed as a rate add-on for each patient encounter in which a MassHealth-covered dental service is delivered to an actively enrolled MassHealth beneficiary age 21+.
    • The payment rate is subject to re-evaluation by the Secretary under existing Sections 13C and 13D.
  • Geographic targeting:
    • Supplemental payments available only to providers located in up to ten municipalities designated by the Secretary as having high MassHealth enrollment and low dental-utilization rates.
  • Provider eligibility criteria:
    • Must be a licensed dentist or licensed public health dental hygienist in Massachusetts.
    • Must be enrolled with MassHealth as an approved billing provider.
    • Must document provision of at least 10 additional adult MassHealth beneficiaries served relative to the prior year.
    • Services must be provided at locations in the eligible municipalities.
  • Implementation: MassHealth must promulgate regulations to implement the section and to define eligible municipalities using available enrollment and utilization data.

Who is affected

  • Primary: MassHealth-participating dentists and public health dental hygienists practicing in designated municipalities who expand adult MassHealth patient volume.
  • Secondary: MassHealth beneficiaries age 21+ (potentially improved access to dental services).
  • State budget: Payments are subject to appropriation and therefore affect MassHealth program expenditures.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill text filed Jan 17, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1960). The bill requires MassHealth rulemaking to take effect and the supplemental payments are subject to appropriation.
  • Because implementation depends on appropriation, regulation, and designation of municipalities by the Secretary, the timing of actual payments and program operation will depend on later administrative and budgetary actions.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Pros: Creates a targeted incentive to recruit or expand care for adult MassHealth patients in high-need communities; could increase utilization of preventive and restorative dental services among adults on MassHealth.
  • Limits/uncertainties: The $31 per-encounter add-on is modest and may or may not be sufficient to change provider behavior; administrative burden to track baseline patient counts and year-over-year increases; impact depends on appropriations, the Secretary’s designation of municipalities, and the content of implementing regulations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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