HJ0042 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0042 LRB098 12204 GRL 46268 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, as part of the effort to reduce Medicaid costs, eliminated adult dental services with the exception of emergency extractions; and

WHEREAS, This was done due to the fact that adult dental services are considered "optional services" under the federal reimbursement guidelines; and

WHEREAS, Much or all of the savings in the dental appropriation would be offset due to increased State spending for those patients who present to hospital emergency rooms seeking pain relief; and

WHEREAS, Most emergency rooms are only able to provide pain medications and antibiotics, which only temporally address the condition; and

WHEREAS, The Pew Center issued a report on February 28, 2012 that documented a 15.8% increase in emergency room visits from 2006 to 2009 in states that reduced or eliminated adult dental care programs; and

WHEREAS, Pew's report also cited a study published in Pediatric Dentistry, stating that treating these problems in an emergency room costs $6,498 per visit, compared with $660 per visit in a dentist's office; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly is prepared to add over a half a million more adults to as part of the Medicaid expansion provisions of the Affordable Care Act; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Adult Dental Safety Net Task Force is created to study the impact of these cuts on the ability of adults covered by Medicaid to receive care for dental conditions without being forced to go to the hospital emergency room for care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 2 members of the House of Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and 2 members appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That 2 members from the Illinois State Dental Society, one from Cook County and one from a rural downstate county, one member from the Primary Health Care Association, one member from the Illinois Public Health Association, one member from the Health Care Council of Illinois, and one member from ARC of Illinois shall be appointed by the co-chairs to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide all necessary support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2014.