Immediate Action Needed:
Call Fax or E-Mail Legislators Right Away and tell them DON'T CUT DENTAL!!! |
Possibly this week, the General Assembly will vote on a plan to mitigate Connecticut's looming budget deficit. The Governor's proposal would eliminate non-emergency dental services to adults across all of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Medicaid programs (HUSKY, SAGA, Title 19, Fee for Service) unless YOU take action!.
However, if we call, fax, and email our legislators, they will look for a more balanced approach to fixing Connecticut's economy and in so doing they will position us to have a healthier workforce when this economic crisis ends!
Call Fax or E-Mail Legislators Today With The Key Messages Below: Get phone numbers or e-mails of your local state senator and representative by town or by zip code here. Feel free to use any of the messages below. Our action is what matters now, so please do not delay!
ORAL HEALTH IS HEALTH
DON'T CUT DENTAL!
1. Routine Dental Care Saves Money.
A three-year comparison of Medicaid
reimbursement shows that it costs ten times more to treat dental
emergencies in the hospital than it does to provide preventive care in a dental
office. Routine dental care is a
responsible course of action.
2. Dental Funds = More $$$.
This essential health care service is
augmented by federal funding. If we
eliminate non-emergency adult dental, we will lose corresponding federal
dollars.
3. Oral Health IS Health!
The mouth is a part of the
body. Poor oral health and lack of
regular access to dental care are directly related to serious and systemic
health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, systemic infection,
pneumonia, cancers and more. Oral health
is an integral component of overall well-being.
4. Health Care Dollars Support Our Flailing Economy.
Much of Connecticut's health care industry
depends upon Medicaid spending; cuts could have a profoundly negative impact on
jobs and employability.
Connecticut cannot afford to be penny wise and pound
foolish: DON'T CUT DENTAL!
You, your clients and patients can send a fax. Contact COHI for your free fax fax forms! The fax numbers are:
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Senate Republicans- (860) 240-8306
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House Democrats - (860) 240-0206
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House Republicans - (860) 240-0207
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Governor Rell (860) 524-7396
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Senate President Donald Williams (860) 240-0208 -
Senate Min. Leader John McKinney (860)240-8306
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House Speaker Chris Donovan (860) 240-0206
- House Min. Leader Larry Cafero (860)240-0207
Please call or email us here at COHI for additional information and materials and to let us know how your legislators respond! Email us at info@ctoralhealth.org or call us at 860-246-2644.
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Oral Health For All
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COHI is a broad-based
coalition dedicated to
promoting oral health through increased
awareness of its
importance and access to quality health services.
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Connecticut must preserve non-emergency dental care for adults covered by Medicaid/SAGA. These routine services are affordable, prevent additional costs and reduce unnecessary suffering:
In Maryland young Deamonte Driver inadvertently lost his Medicaid coverage. The non-emergency care which might have saved his life, at a cost of about $80, was denied. The state of Maryland, however, did pick up the tab for his emergency care
at a cost of more than $250,000 (sadly the two operations and six weeks of hospital care did not
save his life).
Isn't $80 Cheaper than $250, 000?
Non-emergency dental care is a prudent investment that SAVES money.
Michigan eliminated non-emergency dental care for adults on Medicaid. Blanche LaVire, 76, died from a severe dental infection. When doctors tried to schedule her surgery, they discovered she was no longer covered because the governor directed that all oral health services, with the exception of emergency care, be eliminated.
Blanche's condition, which caused her death, didn't meet the standard for emergency care. WILL YOURS?
How You Can Help
Every person who cares about oral health in Connecticut can help!
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| Please:- Contact your local legislators to educate them about the importance of oral health.
- Propose a more balanced approach to CT's budget crisis.
- Send us patient stories and comments about the value of services.
- Prepare letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Contact us to find out how.
- Talk to friends. Ask them to contact legislators.
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Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI)
175 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-246-2644 - Phone
860-246-7744 - Fax
info@ctoralhealth.org
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