Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including dental care, as specified. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes reimbursement rates for services provided by Medi-Cal providers to beneficiaries.

This bill would require that a provider be paid additional compensation when a patient’s physical, behavioral, developmental, or emotional condition requires significant extra time, attention, or personnel to safely deliver dental care. The bill would limit this additional payment to 3 times in a 12-month period.