HB 710
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 710 (Delegate Krebs)
Health and Government Operations
Maryland Medical Assistance Programs - Dental Providers and Dental Students -
Reimbursement
This bill requires the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), under the Medicaid
program, to reimburse a dental provider for services rendered by a student of dentistry who
is (1) engaged in a specified dental education program and (2) providing services under the
supervision of a licensed dentist.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: As the bill essentially codifies what is permissible under current law, State
finances are not materially affected.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law: Generally, an individual must be licensed by the State Board of Dental
Examiners before the individual may practice dentistry on a human being in Maryland.
This requirement does not apply to a student of dentistry while engaged in an education
program at an approved school of dentistry.
With specified exceptions, an applicant for a dental license must hold a degree of Doctor
of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Dental Medicine, or the equivalent, from a college or
university that is (1) authorized by any state or any province of Canada to grant the degree
and (2) recognized by the board as requiring adequate preprofessional collegiate training
and as maintaining an acceptable course of dental instruction.
Comprehensive dental coverage is mandatory for children enrolled in Medicaid. However,
dental benefits for most Medicaid-eligible adults are optional. The Maryland Healthy
Smiles Dental Program covers children younger than age 21, former foster care recipients
younger than age 26, pregnant women age 21 and older, and adults enrolled in the Rare
and Expensive Case Management program. For other Medicaid enrollees, dental coverage
is only for emergency care. For enrollees in managed care organizations (MCOs), some
limited dental benefits are offered on a voluntary basis by MCOs, but costs associated with
those benefits are not reimbursed by Medicaid.
Chapter 621 of 2018 required MDH to establish a pilot adult dental program. In response,
Medicaid proposed a limited benefit program (basic diagnostic and preventive coverage
with limited restorative and extractive services) for adults ages 21 to 64 who are dually
eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (“dual-eligibles”). The program began in
June 2019.
Under the Code of Maryland Regulations, all providers of Medicaid services (including
dentists) must, to the extent required by law, be licensed and legally authorized to practice
or deliver services in the state in which the service is provided. However, while a dental
student is not eligible to enroll as a Medicaid provider, services performed by a dental
student under the direct supervision of licensed dentist who is a Medicaid provider may be
billed under the licensed dentist’s provider number.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: SB 465 (Senator West) - Finance.
Information Source(s): Maryland Department of Health; Department of Legislative
Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 5, 2021
rh/ljm
Analysis by: Jennifer B. Chasse Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 710/ Page 2


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Maryland Medical Assistance Programs - Dental Providers and Dental Students - Reimbursement: 15-114.1 Health General