Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), along with dentist and Congressman, Mike Simpson (R-ID) have introduced H.R. 2422, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2017, legislation that targets federal dollars to state and local dental organizations to provide proven oral health care services in a manner that effectively addresses the barriers to dental care many Americans face. The American Dental Association (ADA) was instrumental in working with the Congresswoman to develop this bill.

The bill takes its name from the ADA’s Action for Dental Health initiative, a nationwide, community-based movement to deliver care to individuals currently suffering with dental ailments. More specifically, H.R. 2422 would redirect existing federal dollars to proven initiatives that strengthen and expand the public/private safety net and focus on the delivery of health education and disease prevention in underserved areas. A similar version of this bill was introduced in the last Congress. H.R. 2422 currently has 67 cosponsors and is pending before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD fully supports the bill’s goal of expanding access to oral health care for the underserved and its efforts to increase oral health literacy and will continue to work with Reps. Kelly and Simpson to generate support for this important legislation.