AGD and other members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition recently sent a letter of support to Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act (S.448).

The bill seeks to improve dental insurance coverage for children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by eliminating the coverage limits, both annual and lifetime, provided under CHIP. The legislation 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.

Impact on General Dentistry: AGD strongly supports the proposed legislation and is working with the bill’s sponsors 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.