§ 2958-A — Rural dentistry pilot program

§ 2958-a. Rural dentistry pilot program. 1. The commissioner shall,\nwithin monies appropriated therefore, establish a rural dentistry pilot\nprogram in Chautauqua, Allegany, and Cattaraugus counties. The\ncommissioner shall, in coordination with the University of Buffalo\nSchool of Dentistry study cost savings achieved through the provision of\ndental services in geographically isolated and underserved areas. Such a\nstudy shall determine:\n (i) the quality of care provided through a mobile dental system,\nincluding minimizing any adverse effects on dental practices already\nserving or seeking to enter rural or underserved communities, the\ninvolvement of dental practices serving rural or underserved communities\nin such a mobile dental system, and the establishment of referral\nsystems and networks to existing dental practices serving rural or\nunderserved communities for regular ongoing care of patients;\n (ii) cost savings achieved through targeted oral health initiatives in\nrural areas;\n (iii) corollaries between preventative dental care and improved\npatient outcomes in rural areas;\n (iv) knowledge, attitude, and behavior outcomes among dental students\nand recommendations for rural dental health education curriculum;\n (v) a profile of the participants, the number of persons served, and\nhealth care disparities;\n (vi) a description of the activities of the program;\n (vii) guidance on facilitated participation in rural areas;\n (viii) provider shortages in rural areas;\n (ix) a description of the impact of the programs on the community and\nrecommendations for replication/improvement in other rural areas; and\n (x) such other activities as the commissioner may deem necessary and\nappropriate to this section.\n 2. Twelve months after the approval of the rural dentistry pilot\nprogram, and annually thereafter, the program shall report to the\ncommissioner on the progress of the program. The commissioner shall\nevaluate the findings of the study and report to the governor, the\ntemporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the\nchair of the senate standing committee on health, the chair of the\nassembly health committee and the chair of the legislative commission on\nrural resources on its findings.\n 3. Additionally, to the extent of funds appropriated therefore,\nmedical assistance funds, including any funding or shared savings as may\nbecome available through federal waivers or otherwise under titles\neighteen and nineteen of the federal social security act, may be used\nfor expenditures in support of the demonstration program.\n 4. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law to the contrary,\nthe commissioner is authorized to waive, modify or suspend the\nprovisions of rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to article\ntwenty-eight of this chapter if the commissioner determines that such\nwaiver, modification or suspension is necessary for the successful\nimplementing of the rural dentistry pilot program authorized pursuant to\nthis section and provided that the commissioner determines that the\nhealth, safety and general welfare of people receiving health care under\nsuch rural dentistry pilot program will not be impaired as a result of\nsuch waiver, modification, or suspension.\n