Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Taylor

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-30-06

HB

SHORT TITLE Oral Health Initiatives Program

SB 539

ANALYST Collard

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$300.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 425 and HB 294

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 539 appropriates $300 thousand from the general fund to DOH for the purpose of

providing treatment for and educating children on the ill effects of methamphetamine on the

mouth. The bill also calls for DOH to provide oral health treatment for special needs children

and orthodontia for children with cleft palates.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 shall revert to the

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DOH states, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), "In addition to numerous

threats to overall health, methamphetamine users risk rampant tooth decay in a distinctive pattern

on the smooth front surface of the teeth and the spaces between the front teeth."

Senate Bill 539 – Page

2

The ADA states: "Methamphetamine users' teeth have been described as 'blackened, stained, rot-

ting, crumbling or falling apart.' Often, the teeth cannot be saved and must be extracted." In ad-

dition, "The rampant caries associated with methamphetamine use is attributed to the following:

the acidic nature of the drug, the drug's xerostomic (dry mouth) effect, its propensity to cause

cravings for high calorie carbonated beverages, tooth grinding and clenching and its long dura-

tion of action leading to extended periods of poor oral hygiene."

Charles Tatlock, D.D.S., M.P.H., Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of

Dental Services of the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center, and his colleague,

Stephen Wagner, D.D.S. of Albuquerque, NM, have been conducting formal research on the oral

effects of methamphetamine use for the last two years at the University of New Mexico and its

affiliated dental clinics.

The DOH Children's Medical Services Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Pro-

gram provides care coordination for children and youth served in the community-based Cleft Lip

and Palate Programs. In FY05 418 children and youth with cleft palate were served. In addition,

children and youth with cleft palate diagnoses who are not Medicaid eligible receive medi-

cal/dental coverage. This program has limited funding to cover the costs. The department indi-

cates the proposed funding in this bill could assist the program in addressing needs.

The DOH Office of Dental Health provides oral health education to children and adolescents on

a variety of topics through the program and contracting agencies. DOH notes the proposed addi-

tional funding would support these efforts.

RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 539 relates to House Bill 294 which appropriates $200 thousand from the general

fund to DOH to support the development of up to three pilot sites designed to increase access to

oral health care services in school-based health centers for underserved students and Senate Bill

425 which appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to DOH to contract with a non-

profit school-based portable dental program to provide dental screening examinations and dental

sealants to uninsured low-income children not eligible for Medicaid but who are eligible for the

free or reduced school lunch program in rural school districts.

KBC/mt