New Bill Introduced to Improve Dental Coverage for Vulnerable Children
Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced a bill on February 25 to improve dental insurance coverage available to children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). S.448, the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act, would eliminate the coverage limits, both annual and lifetime, provided under CHIP, and would also require that CHIP wraparound dental coverage be the same as dental coverage for CHIP enrollees.
CHIP currently provides health coverage to 9.6 million eligible children through both Medicaid and separate programs. CHIP is a federal-state partnership administered by states, according to federal requirements.
The legislation was introduced on the anniversary of Deamonte Driver’s death, a 12-year-old from Maryland who passed away from a brain infection resulting from an untreated tooth abscess.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD supports the proposed legislation and plans to work with the legislation’s sponsors to help advance the effort to have these proposed improvements to CHIP enacted into law. AGD strongly supports improving utilization of oral health care services by vulnerable populations, such as low-income children. CHIP and Medicaid can offer opportunities to increase the oral health literacy of vulnerable populations, a key initiative for the AGD.
CHIP currently provides health coverage to 9.6 million eligible children through both Medicaid and separate programs. CHIP is a federal-state partnership administered by states, according to federal requirements.
The legislation was introduced on the anniversary of Deamonte Driver’s death, a 12-year-old from Maryland who passed away from a brain infection resulting from an untreated tooth abscess.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD supports the proposed legislation and plans to work with the legislation’s sponsors to help advance the effort to have these proposed improvements to CHIP enacted into law. AGD strongly supports improving utilization of oral health care services by vulnerable populations, such as low-income children. CHIP and Medicaid can offer opportunities to increase the oral health literacy of vulnerable populations, a key initiative for the AGD.