This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to delay the implementation of a single dental administrator for the medical assistance program. Specifically, it changes the start date for the dental administrator's contract from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2030, and extends the timeline for establishing recommended payment rates for dental providers from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2029. Additionally, the bill modifies the reporting requirements for dental utilization, pushing the end date for annual reports from March 15, 2026, to March 15, 2028.

The bill outlines the responsibilities of the dental administrator, which include provider recruitment, claims processing, and monitoring access to dental services. It also mandates that recipients have a choice of dental providers and that the administrator must adhere to performance benchmarks and accountability measures. The commissioner is granted the authority to extend the contract for the dental administrator for up to three years and to contract with the same administrator for a total of five years, starting in 2030. Overall, the bill aims to ensure a more gradual transition to the new dental administration system while maintaining oversight and accountability in dental service delivery.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 256B.0371