MN HF3834

Modifies criteria for designating private practicing dentists as critical access dental providers by removing the requirement that offices be located within a health professional shortage area.

Establishes different patient encounter thresholds for private dentists based on geographic location: more than 50 percent of patient encounters in the seven-county metropolitan area versus more than 25 percent outside that area must be with uninsured or medical assistance/MinnesotaCare patients.

Changes the ownership requirement for dental clinics and groups from nonprofit corporation status to include health systems, group dental practices, or health plan companies, while reducing the patient encounter threshold from more than 10,000 to 50 percent with uninsured or publicly covered patients.

Clarifies that hospital-based dental clinics must be owned and operated by a city, county, or former state hospital as defined in statute.

Maintains existing 35 percent reimbursement increase for critical access dental providers, effective July 1, 2007.