(1) (a) There is created in the state department the Colorado dental health care program for lowincome seniors to provide covered dental care services for eligible seniors who are not eligible for dental services under medicaid, the old age pension health and medical care program, or private insurance.
(b) To ensure the continuity of dental health care to low-income seniors, the state department and the department of public health and environment shall ensure that any individual who meets, on June 30, 2014, the eligibility requirements for dental services under the "Colorado Dental Care Act of 1977", article 21 of title 25, C.R.S., prior to its repeal, remains eligible for dental services after June 30, 2014, through the "Colorado Dental Care Act of 1977", medicaid, the old age pension health and medical care fund, or the program.
(2) The state department shall:
In consultation with the advisory committee, review the operation and effectivenessof the program and develop a grant application under the program consistent with rules of the medical services board;
Accept applications for dental health care services grants from any qualified grantee;
On and after July 1, 2015, award dental health care services grants to qualified grantees to provide covered dental care services to eligible seniors;
Pay dental health care services grants within thirty days after approval by the statedepartment;
Ensure that all eligible seniors have access to services through the program; and
Consider geographic distribution of funds among urban and rural areas in the statewhen making funding decisions.
(3) (a) Qualified grantees shall:
Submit an application for a dental health care services grant to the state departmenton the form developed by the state department;
Provide outreach to targeted eligible seniors and dental care providers;
Identify eligible seniors and qualified providers;
Demonstrate collaboration with community organizations;
Ensure that eligible seniors receive covered dental care services efficiently withoutduplication of services;
Maintain records of eligible seniors served, dental care services provided, and moneys spent for a minimum of six years; and
Distribute grant funds to qualified providers in their service area or directly provide covered dental care services to eligible seniors in their service area.
A qualified grantee may expend no more than seven percent of the amount of itsgrant for administrative purposes.
A qualified grantee may also be a qualified provider if the person meets the qualifications of a qualified provider.
(4) Following recommendations of the state department and the advisory committee, the medical services board shall adopt rules pursuant to section 24-4-103, C.R.S., governing the program, including but not limited to:
A definition of "economically disadvantaged" for purposes of eligibility;
A description of dental services that may be provided to eligible seniors under theprogram; except that such services must include but not be limited to oral examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, emergency treatment, prophylaxis, X rays, partial and full dentures, replacement or repair of permanent teeth, removal of permanent teeth, fillings, periodontal treatment, and soft tissue treatment;
Whether to require eligible seniors to make a co-payment and, if so, the circumstances and amount of the co-payment;
A distribution formula for the availability of moneys to each area of the state; and(e) Procedures, criteria, and standards for awarding dental health care services grants.
Source: L. 2014: Entire part added, (SB 14-180), ch. 314, p. 1360, § 1, effective May 31. L. 2019: (2)(a) amended, (HB 19-1326), ch. 172, p. 2000, § 1, effective May 14.