CDHP Health Reform Dental Check-up

Senate Passes Large Jobs Bill; Health Care Reform on Fast Track; Contact Your Representatives to Make the Final Push
The Latest Updates on Oral Health From Capitol Hill
 March 12, 2010
In This Issue
Senate Passes Large Jobs Bill
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Health Care Reform on Fast Track
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Contact Your Representatives to Make the Final Push
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.  
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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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Senate Passes Large Jobs Bill
  



As the President's deadline for passing health reform grows near, this week jobs took priority in Congress.  The Senate passed a $140 billion jobs bill Wednesday which, in addition to extending many popular job-creation tax breaks, extends unemployment benefits such as COBRA through the end of 2010.  The bill also delays scheduled cuts in Medicare reimbursements to physicians and offers additional Medicaid funding to states.

Health Care Reform on Fast Track
  

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As House Democratic leaders prepare a final push for health reform by the April Recess, President Obama is on the move, delivering town hall rally speeches across the nation. The President is using these speeches to renew a sense of urgency to make significant changes to the existing health care system.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to facilitate negotiations Thursday between House Democrats and White House officials on controversial provisions that could determine the success this final push for a bill.  Concerns surrounding cost estimates and controversial issues such as abortion remain unresolved, however Speaker Pelosi remained confident, saying "We have enough to move forward" according to the Associated Press.
 
White House officials also seem confident this week that there is enough momentum in behind the health reform effort to pass the Senate health care bill in the House sometime next week.  The $950 billion Senate bill provided the framework for President Obama's own proposal and will be basis for the budget reconciliation process necessary to implement health reform without GOP support.

Contact Your Representatives to Make the Final Push
  


Grassroots pressure during these final days of the health reform effort is vital to the implementation of key oral health provisions.  The first step in moving forward is to pass the existing Senate bill in the House.  Members of the House need to hear that there is strong support for the inclusion of oral health as part of any health reform effort.  Contact your Representative and tell them you support the following oral health provisions included in the Senate bill being considered by the House. 
 
  • Oral Health Services for Children - Requires that insurance plans offered under the Health Benefits Exchange include oral care for children and bars insurance plans operating under the Exchange from charging out of pocket expenses for preventive services, including preventive pediatric oral health services.
  • MACPAC and payments to dental professionals - Requires the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to review and report to Congress on payments to dental professionals.
  • Dental Coverage in Medicare Advantage - Requires Medicare Advantage Plans to use rebates to pay for dental coverage, and other services.
  • School-based Health Centers - Provides grants to school-based health centers and includes oral health services in qualified services to be provided at those centers.
  • Public Education Campaign - Requires the Secretary to establish a 5-year, evidence-based public education campaign to promote oral health, including a focus on early childhood caries, prevention, oral health of pregnant women, and oral health of at-risk populations.
  • Dental Caries Disease Management - Establishes a grant program to demonstrate the effectiveness of research-based dental caries disease management.
  • School-based Dental Sealant Programs - Requires that all states, territories and Indian tribes receive grants for school-based dental sealant programs.
  • Cooperative Agreements to Improve Oral Health Infrastructure - Requires CDC to expand the number of cooperative agreements with the states, territories and Indian tribes to improve oral health infrastructure.
  • Oral Health Care Surveillance Systems - Requires that the Secretary update and improve national oral health surveillance systems.
  • Alternative Dental Health Care Providers - Establishes five-year, $4 million 15-site demonstration program beginning within two years  to "train or employ" alternative dental health care providers. 
  • National Health Care Workforce Commission - Establishes a National Health Care Workforce Commission, for which oral health care workforce capacity is a designated high priority area for review.
  • Workforce Development - Establishes a unique appropriations line-item for training of general, pediatric, and public health.

For more information on the provisions in the Senate bill, go to our Senate Health Reform Toolbox.