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HB1431
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1431
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to oral health
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii's
oral health program is not meeting the needs of residents.
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Unlike forty-two other states, this State's
department of health does not retain dedicated oral health staff to assess and
monitor the population's oral health status, community needs, and assets;
inform and educate people about oral health; mobilize community partners to
leverage resources; develop, champion, and implement policies, laws, and plans
that support oral health efforts; reduce barriers to care; assure a competent
and skilled public and private oral health workforce; and improve public oral
health functions through ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement.
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The
legislature further finds that while the adult medicaid population has limited
access to dental care, there is a lack of dental providers for this
population.
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Additionally, while
federally qualified health centers in each county are a critical medical and
oral health safety net, approximately forty-two thousand people of all ages and
covered by all types of health insurance were served by the health centers in
2021.
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The
legislature additionally finds that while the department of health operates
five small dental clinics and also serves individuals who are elderly, blind,
intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, all
clinics are located in the city and county of Honolulu.
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The State does not operate dental clinics to
serve similar populations in other counties.
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The legislature notes that three hundred thirty-nine dentists in the
State currently accept and treat adults covered by medicaid.
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While the
legislature allocated more than $25,000,000 in 2022 to reinstate adult medicaid
dental benefits, the legislature is concerned that the current oral health
infrastructure is insufficient to deliver oral health services to those most in
need.
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The
purpose of this Act is to:
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(1)
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Establish an oral health task force to review
information and data on the status of oral health in the State and make
recommendations to improve the State's oral health infrastructure; and
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(2)
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Appropriate funds to help facilitate the work
of the oral health task force.
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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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There is established an oral health task force to be placed within the
department of health for administrative purposes.
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(b)
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The oral health task force shall:
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(1)
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Review all information and data relating to
oral health status in Hawaii, including the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition
2022-2023 environmental scan, for evidence of key oral health issues and
evident areas for action;
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(2)
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Review all information and data relating to
the department of health oral health program functions and processes and make
recommendations regarding organizational structure, personnel needs, contracted
service needs, required resources, and potential additional funding and
support;
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(3)
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Review and analyze systemic issues in oral
health services and processes statewide and make recommendations for systemic
changes and improvements to improve equity in oral health;
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(4)
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Develop an oral health strategic blueprint
that includes goals, objectives, specific actions, and resources needed;
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(5)
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Act as a systemic facilitator for key oral
health stakeholders so that complex and problematic issues can be discussed and
addressed in a timely and effective manner;
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(6)
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Ensure that there are agreed-upon community
metrics for analyzing the development and implementation of medicaid funding
for oral health; and
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(7)
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Make recommendations to state and county
policymakers regarding systemic actions recommended to improve oral health in
Hawaii.
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(c)
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The oral health task force shall consist of
the following members:
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(1)
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One representative of the family health
services division of the department of health, to be appointed by the director
of health;
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(2)
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One representative of the developmental
disabilities division of the department of health, to be appointed by the
director of health;
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(3)
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One representative of the med-QUEST division
of the department of human services, to be appointed by the director of human
services;
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(4)
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One representative of the student services
branch of the department of education, to be appointed by the superintendent of
education;
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(5)
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One representative of the state council on
developmental disabilities, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
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(6)
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A faculty member of the university of Hawaii
at Manoa Nancy Atmospera-Walch school of nursing dental hygiene program, to be
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
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(7)
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One representative of the university of Hawaii
John A. Burns school of medicine, to be appointed by the president of the
senate;
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(8)
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One representative of the county of Hawaii who
is a department of health employee or community oral health representative, to
be appointed by the president of the senate;
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(9)
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One representative of the county of Maui, to
be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
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(10)
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One representative of the county of Kauai, to
be appointed by the president of the senate;
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(11)
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One representative of the Hawaii Oral Health
Coalition, to be invited by the president of the senate;
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(12)
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One representative of the Hawaii Dental
Association, to be invited by the speaker of the house of representatives;
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(13)
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One representative of the Hawaii Dental
Service, to be invited by the president of the senate;
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(14)
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One representative of the Hawaii Dental
Service Foundation, to be invited by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
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(15)
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One representative of a Hawaii dental medicaid
insurer, to be invited by the president of the senate;
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(16)
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Two community advocates for medicaid and oral
health, one each to be invited by the speaker of the house of representatives
and president of the senate, respectively;
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(17)
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One representative of the Hawaii Primary Care
Association, to be invited by the president of the senate;
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(18)
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One representative of the Native Hawaiian
Health Care Systems, to be invited by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
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(19)
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One representative of Papa Ola Lokahi, to be
invited by the president of the senate;
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(20)
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One representative of the Hawaii Dental
Hygienists' Association, to be invited by the speaker of the house of
representatives; and
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(21)
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One representative advocate from the private
practice dental community who is working with the adult medicaid population and
other medicaid-associated dentists, to be invited by the director of health.
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(d)
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The representative of the family health
services division of the department of health shall serve as the chairperson of
the task force.
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If the representative of
the family health services division of the department of health is unable to
serve as the chairperson of the task force, the members of the task force shall
select a chairperson from among the remaining members.
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(e)
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The oral health task force shall submit an
interim report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.
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The department of health shall submit a final
report of the oral health task force's findings and recommendations, including
any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to
the convening of the regular session of 2028.
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(f)
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The task force shall cease to exist on June
30, 2028.
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(g)
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The task force shall be exempt from part I of
chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the family health
services division of the department of health to contract with a consultant to
facilitate the work of the oral health task force, including completing the
interim and final reports required by subsection (e) of section 2 of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of health for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
4.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $79,872 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of
one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) program specialist V position
within the family health services division of the department of health.
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This
position shall:
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(1)
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Collect, analyze, and evaluate information
relevant to specific oral health policy issues and related material to enable
oral health task force members to develop informed policy recommendations
affecting oral health care;
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(2)
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Serve as the representative of the department
of health oral health program to the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition;
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(3)
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Develop, administer, monitor, and provide
oversight of the contract for a consultant to facilitate the work of the oral
health task force; and
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(4)
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Serve as a liaison between the department of
health and other state agencies on the oral health task force.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of health for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Department
of Health; Oral Health Task Force; Positions; Reports; Appropriations
Description:
Establishes
an Oral Health Task Force to review the status of oral health in the State and
make recommendations to improve the State's oral health infrastructure.
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Establishes one full-time equivalent
program
specialist V position.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.