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August 6, 2007American Dental Association Issues Statement on Dental Provisions in House SCHIP Reauthorization Bill |
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From ADA: With the enactment of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) ten years ago, the federal government made a promise to provide health care to millions of children in families just above the federal poverty line. As we all know, when it came to assuring access to good oral health care, that promise wasn't kept, and too many children have suffered needlessly from dental disease as a result. This year, the Congress and the President have an opportunity to right that wrong. The American Dental Association (ADA) is proud to stand with members of the Maryland congressional delegation who have made our cause - ensuring access to dental care for children in need - their cause. The House-passed SCHIP reauthorization bill, by including a dental benefit guarantee in SCHIP, is a good first step in that direction. While some people want to focus on the cost of this bill, we want to emphasize that devoting resources to preventive dental care for children is one of the best investments that the government can make. Without access to regular preventive dental services, dental care for many children is postponed until problems like toothache and abscesses become so acute that care is sought in hospital emergency departments. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859.
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