Utah Bill Would Require Medicaid to Directly Reimburse Dental Hygienists

A bill making its way through the Utah House of Representatives would make it easier for dental hygienists to be paid for services rendered. 

The bill, SB103,  introduced by Sen. Todd D. Weiler will require the state’s Department of Health to directly reimburse dental hygienists for certain services provided through Medicaid. The bill will also create a deadline for the department to begin reimbursing dental hygienists directly.  

Under Utah’s bill, the state’s Medicaid program will be required to report yearly to Utah’s Health and Human Services Interim Committee on the following:

• The number and geographic distribution of dental hygienists who requested to be reimbursed directly
• The total number of patients covered by Medicaid who received care from dental hygienists who were directly reimbursed for those services
• The total amount reimbursed directly to dental hygienists
• Specific services and billing codes that are reimbursed
• The aggregate amount reimbursed for each service and billing code

Dental hygienists may only directly bill and receive compensation for billing codes that fall within the scope of practice of a dental hygienist. 

If passed, Utah will join 18 other states that authorize direct reimbursement from Medicaid programs. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association provides information on those states that have passed practice acts that allow Medicaid programs to directly reimburse hygienists for services provided within their scope of practice at: adha.org/reimbursement. 

SB103 has been passed by the Utah Senate and moved to Utah’s House of Representatives for consideration. At press time, the bill was with the Business and Labor Committee.