A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 50-24.1-45 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to covered services for medical assistance.
Summary
SB 2231 would expand North Dakota Medicaid medical assistance coverage to include several additional oral health and behavioral health-related services. The bill requires coverage for family adaptive behavioral treatment and guidance to help parents and caregivers follow applied behavior analysis plans, dental screening and assessment, dental case management for certain populations, asynchronous teledentistry, and medically necessary dental services.
The dental provisions are aimed at improving access to care and identifying treatment needs earlier, especially for elderly people, individuals with special needs, medically fragile patients, and children. The bill also directs the department to process claims through its existing dentistry claims system and Medicaid management information system, indicating that the new services would be integrated into current administrative processes rather than creating a separate claims structure.
Impact
If enacted, SB 2231 would amend section 50-24.1-45 of the North Dakota Century Code to broaden the list of covered medical assistance benefits under Medicaid. It would require the state to pay for specified dental and behavioral services and would formally recognize asynchronous teledentistry and dental case management as covered services. The bill also specifies that some of the listed dental services do not apply to Medicaid expansion for children and adults, which limits the reach of certain provisions within the broader medical assistance program.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had strong support in the Senate, passing second reading 44-3, but it was later defeated in the House on second reading by a vote of 33-59. That pattern suggests the proposal was viewed favorably by many senators but did not secure enough support in the House to become law. No committee transcript is available, so the recorded votes are the main indicator of sentiment.
Contention
The likely points of contention were the cost and scope of expanding Medicaid-covered services, particularly for dental care and teledentistry. Supporters likely viewed the bill as a way to improve access, reduce barriers to care, and better serve vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and medically fragile individuals. Opponents in the House appear to have been concerned about mandating additional covered services under medical assistance, especially where the bill would expand obligations for the state Medicaid program and its claims processing system.
AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 50-24.1-02.6 and 50-24.1-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to medical assistance benefits and Medicaid waivers; and to provide an effective date.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 50-24.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to medical assistance prescription drug benefits for antiobesity medication.
AN ACT to amend and reenact section 50-24.6-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prior authorization and certification of medically necessary medication.