(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the challenges and unique dental treatment needs of the developmentally disabled population that cannot be addressed within the current structure of benefits, frequency of allowable procedures, and treatment authorization procedures for assistance programs relating to dental benefits.
(b) The department shall work in cooperation with the State Department of Developmental Services, and in consultation with the California Dental Association, to provide existing data directly to the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature specified in subdivision (c), by April 1, 2003, describing the characteristics of dental services received by Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are eligible to receive dental services under the Lanterman Developmental Disability Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500)), who can be easily identified, including, but not limited to, the frequency of utilization of dental procedures and services, and types of dental procedures and services.
(c) The committees to whom the data shall be provided include all of the following:
(1) The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.
(2) The Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 3 on Health, Human Services, Labor, and Veterans Affairs.
(3) The Assembly Committee on Health.
(4) The Assembly Committee on Human Services.
(5) The Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Health and Human Services.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the information described in subdivision (b) will be used to identify possible program modifications that are more appropriate to serve the population described in subdivision (b), and that are more efficient and more effective in serving this population, while remaining cost-neutral.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 522, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)