(a) The Department shall issue a request for proposals for the administration of dental services for Program recipients for the purpose of comparing and evaluating the performance and cost of dental services provided by a managed care organization and the performance and cost of dental services provided by a dental managed care organization that is separate from a managed care organization.

(b) The Department shall provide access to Program recipients for dental services to increase utilization of dental services in accordance with utilization targets that the Department by regulation establishes in an oral health care plan.

(c) The access required under subsection (b) of this section may be through a managed care organization or a dental managed care organization that is separate from a managed care organization.