Health Care Reform: Improving Oral Health in America
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Recent News
Letter to Senate Leadership: The Association sent a letter on Nov. 17 addressed to Senate leaders offering our perspective on some of the important issues as they work to merge the legislation proposed by different committees into a single health care reform bill. The three-page letter very clearly outlines the Association's position on many key issues under consideration by the Senate, including an amendment that prohibits insurance companies from applying a plan's fee schedule to non-covered dental services and another that repeals the McCarran-Ferguson federal antitrust exemption for the health insurance industry. Read a copy of the letter here  .
"Affordable Health Care for America Act" (H.R. 3962): Although the ADA does not support the overall health care reform measure that passed the House of Representatives, it is pleased to see a number of provisions that would benefit dentistry and dental patients. Read the updated side by side here.
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At Issue
For too long, the dire unmet oral health needs of a growing number of Americans unable to access dental care have been ignored due to their economic status, geographic location or a myriad of other barriers to care. Medicaid promises “coverage” to millions of our neediest citizens—mostly children—while inadequate funding betrays that promise.
Tens of thousands of dentists provide free care to hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged people each year through volunteer programs such as Give Kids A Smile, Donated Dental Services and Missions of Mercy. According to one survey, the value of this donated care amounted to $1.6 billion in a single year. However, no matter how much free care dentists give, volunteerism alone won't solve the problem because charity is not a health care system.
The ADA believes that a relatively small government investment in three areas can make a significant improvement in the oral health of Americans:
- Mend the tattered Medicaid safety net by improving the dental Medicaid program.
- Adequately fund proven oral disease prevention and wellness programs.
- Rebuild the dental public health infrastructure, which includes recruiting and retaining dentists who are competent in public health practice.
The American Dental Association urges Members of Congress to adopt the ADA’s recommendations in health care reform legislation.
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Dr. Findley Reports on Health Care Reform
On July 20, 2009, ADA President Dr. John Findley in an alert to the membership reported on the status of the Association’s work on health care reform. You can read this alert at the link below:
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
Congressional Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-2400
Fax: 202-898-2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
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