CA AB2535

Establishes a 5-year pilot program requiring the Department of Health Care Services to educate and train Denti-Cal providers to serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are regional center consumers.

Requires participating Denti-Cal providers to complete continuing education hours and clinical hours working with regional center consumers, with the specific number of hours to be determined by the department in collaboration with the Dental Board of California and Dental Hygiene Board of California.

Mandates the department to contract with an independent evaluator and utilize an expert to advise on pilot program design and conduct evaluations to measure whether the program increases the number of willing and able Denti-Cal providers statewide.

Establishes a supplemental provider payment under Denti-Cal for dental providers who render services to regional center consumers and complete the required continuing education and clinical hours.

Requires the department to issue a report to the Legislature no later than one year after initial funding, and repeals the pilot program on January 1, 2027.