(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘COFA citizen’ means an individual who is a citizen of:

(A) The Republic of the Marshall Islands;

(B) The Federated States of Micronesia; or

(C) The Republic of Palau.

(b) ‘Dental care organization’ means a prepaid managed care health services organization, as defined in ORS § 414.025, that provides dental care to members of a coordinated care organization.

(c) ‘Income’ means the modified adjusted gross income that is attributed to an individual in determining the individual’s eligibility for the medical assistance program.

(2) The COFA Dental Program is established in the Oregon Health Authority. The purpose of the program is to provide oral health care to low-income citizens of the island nations in the Compact of Free Association who are residing in Oregon.

(3) The authority shall contract with dental care organizations throughout this state, and with individual oral health care providers in areas of this state that are not served by dental care organizations, to provide oral health care to COFA citizens enrolled in the COFA Dental Program.

(4) Enrollees in the COFA Dental Program shall receive the types and extent of oral health care services that the authority determines will be provided to medical assistance recipients in accordance with ORS § 414.065, without any corresponding copayments, deductibles or cost sharing required.

(5) An individual is eligible for the COFA Dental Program if the individual:

(a) Is a resident of Oregon;

(b) Is a COFA citizen;

(c) Has income that is less than 138 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; and

(d) Does not qualify for Medicaid under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or the Children’s Health Insurance Program under Title XXI of the Social Security Act.

(6) The authority may use the application process described in ORS § 411.400 for the COFA Dental Program. The authority shall provide culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance, in person and by telephone, to applicants for and enrollees in the program. The application process, forms and notices used in the COFA Dental Program must conform to the guidance adopted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, regarding the prohibition against national origin discrimination affecting persons with limited English proficiency in federally funded programs.

(7) The authority shall accept as verification of eligibility the attestation of an applicant for or enrollee in the COFA Dental Program that the applicant or enrollee meets the requirements of subsection (5) of this section.

(8) The authority shall conduct a comprehensive community education and outreach campaign, working with stakeholder and community organizations, to facilitate applications for and enrollment in the COFA Dental Program.

(9) The authority may not disclose personally identifying information about applicants for or enrollees in the COFA Dental Program except to the extent necessary to conduct outreach under subsection (8) of this section or to comply with federal or state laws. [2022 c.87 § 1; 2023 c.584 § 8]

413.614 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 413 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

VETERANS DENTAL PROGRAM