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Welcome to CDHP's Health Reform Dental
Check-up! We are excited to provide a
regular update on what is happening on Capitol Hill related to oral health
within the health reform debate. We look
forward to providing you with the information we hear and to hearing from you. |
CDHP IS MOVING!
Please note beginning July 1st, CDHP will be at the following address:
1020 19th Street
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
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About CDHP
Founded in 1997, the Children's Dental Health Project is a national
non-profit organization with the vision of achieving equity in
children's oral health. Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP)
designs and advances research-driven policies and innovative solutions
by engaging a broad base of partners committed to children and oral
health, including professionals, communities, policymakers and
parents. We work to eliminate barriers to preventing tooth decay to
ensure that all children reach their full potential. |
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A Big Week for Oral Health
This
past week, oral health received significant attention on Capitol Hill and off
the Hill as the historic health reform debate continued to unfold. Last Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
provided a significant boost to the prospects of health reform when the House
of Representatives released its draft of their health care reform bill. In her statement,
Speaker Pelosi listed 12 ways health care
reform will help you and your family, one of which explicitly stated the
promise of guaranteed, affordable oral health and vision care for kids! In addition, the Washington Post dedicated its Tuesday Health Section to oral health. Journalist Mary Otto who broke the story of
Deamonte Driver's death due to untreated tooth decay authored the feature
article in Tuesday's Post. Otto examined
the issue of oral health in health care reform and highlighted the work of many
dental organizations, including CDHP's own Dr. Edelstein. This ongoing attention to oral health
continues to enhance CDHP's optimism that oral health will be addressed in
final negotiations of health reform.
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This
Week On The Hill
The
House Tri-Committee proposal mentioned above includes three primary oral health
provisions and remains scheduled to be marked-up after the 4th of
July Congressional break. The oral
health provisions include: - pediatric oral health as a part of well baby care in the basic benefit
package required in the any public or private plan;
- adult oral health services as part of the premium plus plan;
- training for general, pediatric, and public health dentists and dental
hygienists.
For a summary of the bill, click here.
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Senate
HELP Committee Continues Bill Mark-up
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee continued to mark
up their health reform bill this week. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) continues to be one
of the dental communities' strongest champions as he and his staff negotiated
numerous amendments that could have weakened the oral health provisions in the
bill. Because of their success and the
diligence of advocates who have contacted Members of the HELP committee to
express concern, CDHP is optimistic that the oral health provisions will remain
strong in the final HELP bill. The HELP
Committee will continue their mark-up of the bill after the July break.
At
the time we are completing this update, it was being reported that the Senate
has reached an agreement to invest $1 trillion dollars in health care reform. Details of the Senate Finance bill have not
been released but CDHP continues to work aggressively to ensure the inclusions
of dental benefits for children, pregnant women and adults in the bill. We will be sure to send you the latest
information on the Senate Finance bill and other activities on health reform.
If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact Meg Booth at CDHP.
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