H. B. 3017
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Compton, Kominar,
Butcher, Mahan, Hatfield and Beane)
[Introduced March 27, 2001; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend chapter sixteen of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article thirty-eight,
relating to the creation of a state oral health program within
the bureau for public health.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter sixteen of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding
thereto a new article, designated article thirty-eight, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 38. ORAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT.
§16-38-1. Short title.
This article may be cited as the "West Virginia Oral Health
Improvement Act".
§16-38-2. Oral health program.
The commissioner of the bureau for public health shall
implement and maintain an oral health program including, but not
limited to:
(1) The development of comprehensive dental health plans
within the framework of the state plan of operation, provided for
in subdivision (f), section six, article one of this chapter, to
maximize use of all available resources.
(2) Providing the consultation necessary to coordinate
federal, state, county and city agency programs concerned with
dental health.
(3) Encouraging, supporting and augmenting the efforts of
local boards of health and boards of education in the
implementation of a dental health component in their program plans.
(4) Providing consultation and program information to, at a
minimum, health professions, health professional educational
institutions, school educators, extension specialists and volunteer
agencies.
(5) (A) Providing programs aimed at preventing and detecting
oral cancer in the state, with a primary focus of meeting the needs
of high-risk under-served populations, with the intent to reduce
oral cancer mortality. In consultation with dental care providers,
the commissioner shall develop and implement ongoing oral cancer
educational programs in the state:
(i) To train health care providers to screen and properly refer patients with oral cancers; and
(ii) To promote the cessation of the use of alcohol and
tobacco products with a primary focus of meeting the needs of
high-risk under-served populations;
(B) The programs developed and implemented under this
subdivision shall address:
(i) The risk factors that lead to oral cancer;
(ii) The signs and symptoms of oral cancer;
(iii) The high-risk behaviors that may lead to oral cancer;
and
(iv) The accessibility of screening to detect oral cancer.
(6) Providing programs addressing oral health education and
promotion, including:
(A) Public health education to promote the prevention of oral
disease through self-help methods, including the initiation and
expansion of preschool, school age and adult education programs;
(B) Organized continuing health education training programs
for, at a minimum, health care providers, school educators and
extension specialists; and
(C) Preventive health education information for the public.
(7) Facilitation of access to oral health services, including:
(A) The improvement of the existing oral health services
delivery system for the provision of services to low-income
residents;
(B) Outreach activities to inform the public of the type and
availability of oral health services to increase the accessibility
of oral health care for low-income residents; and
(C) Assistance and cooperation in promoting better
distribution of dentists and other oral health professionals
throughout the state.
(8) Providing programs specifically targeting prevention of
tooth loss and the restoration of existing teeth;
(9) Providing oral or dental health services to individuals in
need, to the extent funds are available for the services.
(10) Provide evaluation of these programs in terms of
preventive services.
§16-38-3. Dentist to administer program.
The director shall appoint a dentist licensed in this state to
administer the oral health program.
§16-38-4. Receipt of funds.
(a) The commissioner has the power to receive for the oral
health program any financial aid granted by any private, federal,
state or local or other grant or source, and the bureau shall use
the funds to carry out the provisions and purposes of this article.
(b) All funds received by the commissioner for the oral health
program shall be deposited into the "oral health program fund"
which is created in the state treasury.
§16-38-5. Contracts.
The commissioner may enter into contracts and agreements
necessary to facilitate the efficient and economical provision of
oral health services under this article, including contracts for
the purchase of services, equipment, and supplies from qualified
providers, if included in the plan.
§16-38-6. Reporting requirements.
On or before the first day of December of each year, the
commissioner shall submit a report on the commissioner's findings
and recommendations to the governor and the joint committee on
government and finance on the oral health programs established
under this article. The report shall include the identification of
existing barriers to proper oral health care in the state and
recommendations addressing the removal of the barriers.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for the
creation
of a state oral health program within the bureau for public health.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.