{ legislative & regulatory } by Olivia Wilson • MDA Legislative Liaison


During the Interim W


hile being an elected official is a full-time job, our state legislators are only at the Capitol in their official


capacities January through May. During the “interim”, the seven-month stretch from June to December, your MDA lobby team keeps in touch with state representatives through a variety of ways.


Lobbyists like me travel extensively through- out the state to meet with legislators in their own districts. In election years like this one, we attend fundraisers and distribute MODentPAC contributions. Most important, we take time to communicate with members about the past legislative session’s successes and future legislative goals.


This year marked one of the most successful legislative sessions in our Association’s histo- ry. On June 30, Governor Parson signed into law Senate Bill 710, sponsored by Sen. Doug Beck (D-Affton). This omnibus healthcare bill included several MDA priorities, including updating Missouri’s Assignment of Benefits and Prompt Credentialing statutes to include ALL types of dental providers. Read complete details at modental.org/advocacy. Senate Bill 710 will go into effect August 28.


That same day, the Governor signed HB3011 to increase Missouri’s Medicaid Dental re- imbursement rates up to 80 percent of 2021 UCR averages. This new rate is comparable to most commercial dental insurance plans in the state. Missouri Medicaid dental pro- viders may and should begin billing based on


these new codes as of July 1. When any state changes their Medicaid reimbursement rates or methodology, they must submit what is called a “state plan amendment” to CMS. This is more of a notification process than it is an application. Once CMS approves the state plan amendment, MO HealthNet will reimburse you for the difference between the new and old codes. If you do not bill based on the new codes, you are not eligible for that reimbursement. Again, you can begin billing for these codes today! Learn more about the FY23 Medicaid dental reimbursement rates and becoming a Medicaid provider at modental.org/ medicaid.


Contact Olivia at olivia@molobby. com.


MISSOURI D ENT A L A SSOCIA TION


FEBR UARY 1, 2023


MARCH 1, 2023 MODENTAL.ORG/LEGDAY 16 focus | JUL/AUG 2022 | ISSUE 4


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32