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

SPONSOR Papen

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/09/07

3/22/07 HB

SHORT TITLE Dental Services for Underserved Children

SB 582

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$100.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to: multiple bills.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 582 would appropriate $100,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health

(DOH) in Fiscal Year 2008 to contract with a nonprofit company to provide dental services,

including comprehensive examinations, oral cancer screening, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride

treatment and sealants, and oral health education to underserved children statewide who have

little access to dental professionals and who are at high risk for dental disease. Any unexpended

or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the Fiscal Year 2008 shall revert to the general

fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Both the executive and legislative recommendations include in the public health division base

funding of $750,000 for dental contract services and $231,000 to the University of New Mexico.

In addition, both recommendations include $90,000 for dental care and support (client driven,

eligibility based) services. The Legislative Finance Committee has also recommended $250,000

for oral health services expansion.

Senate Bill 582 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The intent of SB 582 is to expand existing dental health services to underserved children

statewide who have little access to dental professionals and who are at high risk for dental

disease.

The need for oral health care is the most prevalent unmet health care need among children and

adolescents (Child and Adolescent Health Issues, 2004, National Maternal and Child Oral Health

Resource Center). Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, and is five times more

common than asthma. Annually, 56 million school hours are lost as a result of dental disease

among children.

The 2000 New Mexico Children’s Oral Health Survey has identified that 65% of New Mexico

children have experienced tooth decay and 37% have untreated tooth decay. The New Mexico

Oral Health Surveillance System Report has identified that 27% of 3rd grade children did not

obtain needed dental care within a given year, and 10% of 3rd grade children have never been to

a dentist.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DOH currently provides funds for dental services through the existing State contracting process.

There would be little administrative impact.

RELATIONSHIP

HB 582 relates to HB 102, which would appropriate funds to develop and implement a rural oral

health intervention and prevention program for children up to four years of age who are members

of the Navajo Nation and HB 242, which would create the Dental Hygienist Student Loan for

Service Act. HB 582 also relates to SB 35 which would appropriate start-up funds for dental

hygiene programs to various educational institutions in the State and SB 173, which would

appropriate funds to operate mobile dental health clinics in southern New Mexico.

GG/nt