Debate over health reform legislation reached a fevered pitch on the Senate floor this week, as opponents pulled out a host of procedural motions to stall final passage.  Senate Majority Leader Reid has warned that the delays could force the Chamber to stay in session for late nights in the coming days.  Further, he indicated that a final vote on health reform legislation could be pushed to Christmas Eve.  All of this is intended to make good on the promise to finish the Senate's work on the bill before January 1st, in an attempt to deliver a bill to the President's desk before his State of the Union address. 

Among the more contentious amendments that were considered this week was an amendment offered by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to replace the current health care system with a publicly-run "single payer" system.  Senator Sanders was forced to withdraw the 700-page amendment when opponents threatened to force the Senate Clerk to read the text out loud.  Negotiations over a replacement for a "public option" also continued this week, with Senators abandoning plans to expand the Medicare program but forging ahead with the creation of national, publicly-administered but privately-run insurance plans.
 
In the coming days, the Senate might also consider an amendment offered by Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania to strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and continue its funding through 2019.  The House health reform package allows CHIP to expire in the year 2013 and moves all the children enrolled in the program into either Medicaid or the newly established Health Benefits Exchange.  The Senate bill currently allows CHIP coverage to continue through 2019, but with no additional designated funding from the federal government.  More than 600 advocacy groups across the country, including CDHP, have come out in support of Senator Casey's amendment.  It is unclear at this time if the amendment will receive a formal vote on the Senate floor or if elements of it will be rolled into a larger "manager's amendment" to be offered by Leadership -- or if it will gain any traction at all.

Contact your Senators and Representatives today to schedule a meeting to talk about the importance of oral health.  Specifically, we recommend that you make the following key points:

• Preserve pediatric oral health care.  Both the House and Senate bills guarantee oral health care for children covered under the Health Benefits Exchange.  Given the importance of oral health to overall health, this is an essential element of the children's benefits package and must be included in any bill sent to the President.
  

• Defer to the House bill on oral health expertise.  The House bill requires that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee charged with overseeing the Health Benefits Exchange must include experts in oral health.  The Senate is silent on this issue.  Because oral health and overall health have not been traditionally integrated, experts in oral health will be necessary to help ensure appropriate decisions are made with respect to coverage, benefit design, system delivery and quality.

• Maintain oral health workforce provisions in the Senate bill.  The Senate bill includes significant provisions to expand training programs for dentists and fund demonstration grants for midlevel providers. Access to care is dependent on a sufficient investment in the oral health workforce and these Senate provisions must be maintained. 

• Maintain oral health prevention provisions in the Senate bill.  Senate provisions regarding oral health care prevention activities must be prevail, including a public education campaign; demonstration grants for dental caries management; school-based dental sealant programs in all 50 states; allowing school-based health centers to use funds for dental programs; and authorizing CDC grants to improve oral health.

To contact your elected officials, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or go to the web sites of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.