ADA Statement on Dental Provisions in House SCHIP Bill

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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. This effort comes too late for Deamonte Driver, the Maryland boy who died earlier this year from complications apparently stemming from untreated dental disease, but it is our obligation to prevent similar tragedies. The House-passed SCHIP reauthorization bill, by including a dental benefit guarantee in SCHIP, is a good first step in that direction.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-03-2007/0004639082&EDATE=

For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at
http://www.ada.org.