This bill proposes a legislative management study to assess the dental and oral health care needs of low-income children, Native American children, and individuals with disabilities who are Medicaid recipients. The study, scheduled for the 2025-26 interim, will evaluate various aspects of dental care access, including the current status of Medicaid recipients, the impact of unmet dental needs on overall health, barriers to provider enrollment in Medicaid, and the availability of complex dental services. Additionally, it will explore potential solutions such as increasing dental reimbursement rates, expanding educational opportunities for dental professionals, and enhancing partnerships with tribal health organizations.

Furthermore, the bill includes an appropriation of $97,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the expansion of its oral health program student rotations and recruitment efforts for dental students, particularly in community health centers serving Native American populations. The findings and recommendations from the study will be reported to the seventieth legislative assembly, along with any necessary legislation to implement those recommendations.