Rep. Robin Kelly (left) and Rep. Mike Simpson (right) have teamed up to support The Action for Dental Health Act of 2015, H.R. 539, would authorize Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants to support volunteer dental projects.
The American Dental Association's (ADA) Action for Dental Health, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) have one thing in common and a strong bond: a desire to improve dental health and especially the dental health of underserved, low-income Americans. The ADA reported that Rep. Kelly introduced a bill this past week, H.R. 539, to support those efforts nationwide. H.R. 539 is titled the Action for Dental Health Act of 2015 and was introduced by Rep. Kelly, and co-sponsored by Rep. Simpson as the lead Republican cosponsor. Rep. Simpson is a dentist, one of two sitting members in the House of Representatives who are also dentists.
This legislation will target crucial federal dollars to state and local dental organizations to provide proven oral health care services in a manner that effectively addresses the barriers to dental care many Americans face. This bill would have a significant impact on many underserved communities.
“Regular visits to the dentist do more than keep your smile attractive – they can tell a lot about your overall health, including whether or not you may be developing a disease like diabetes or if you’re at risk for a stroke,” said Rep. Kelly. “Our bill helps to create healthier communities by breaking down barriers to oral healthcare and will ultimately help reduce unnecessary healthcare costs by minimizing and eliminating dental diseases in their early stages.”
“Early diagnosis, intervention and preventive treatments can stop the progress of most oral diseases,” said Rep. Simpson. “Not only do individuals often suffer from severe pain, but it also adds unnecessary costs to the health care delivery system, costs that could have been minimized or eliminated had the disease been caught in its early stages.”
H.R. 539 redirects existing federal dollars to initiatives that have a real impact on dental access disparities. The bill includes programs that reduce the number of people who visit emergency rooms by diverting them to private dental practices, where in some cases they can repay the cost of their care with community service activities, expansion of care in nursing homes and for the elderly, support of charitable organizations, improving collaboration with health professionals, and several other provisions.
Bipartisanship when it comes to the dental health of all Americans is the driving force behind this piece of legislation, with the two leading sponsors from opposite ends of the political spectrum. However, both Reps. Kelly and Simpson have been noted for their "working across the aisle."
Last April, Rep. Kelly introduced H.R. 4395. At the time in a letter to her Congressional colleagues, she said, "More than 47 million people in the U.S. live in places with limited access to dental care, according to the Federal Health Resources ad Services Administration. And, low-income adults are almost twice as likely as those with higher incomes to have had no dental care in the previous year."
Kelly added, "Poor dental health can also be an obstacle to employment as many Americans with dental issues find it challenging to land jobs that require them to interact socially with the public, often because they lack the basic ability to smile readily, communicate confidently or chew properly."
The bill takes its name from the American Dental Association's (ADA) Action for Dental Health, a nationwide, community-based movement to deliver care now to people already suffering with dental disease, strengthen and expand the public/private safety net, and bring dental health education and disease prevention into underserved communities. The bill would authorize Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to support volunteer dental projects and collaborative initiatives.
According the the American Dental Association, this bill funds two federal grant programs. The first would provide $10 million annually to qualified state and local organizations offering free dental services for underserved populations. The second program would provide $10 million annually to organizations implementing Action for Dental Health initiatives that reduce the barriers to care. Both grants are limited to five fiscal years after enactment.
"We're delighted that these bipartisan members of Congress understand the need for action and are supporting us in this ambitious undertaking," said ADA President Dr. Maxine Feinberg. "Dentists across the country are taking up this challenge with renewed determination. But we can't do this alone. We need everyone with a stake in a healthier nation to join us."
The Action for Dental Health Act will allow organizations to qualify for HHS oral health grants to support activities that improve oral health education and dental disease prevention, including developing and expanding outreach programs that will facilitate establishing dental homes for children and adults, including the elderly, blind and disabled.
"This bill adds no additional burden to taxpayers," said Dr. Feinberg. "Rather, it will redirect existing resources to the kinds of programs that are already proven to reduce and eliminate the barriers that prevent millions of Americans from achieving good oral health."
The bill would support the types of initiatives identified by the ADA as having the greatest impact on dental access disparities, including:
Reducing the number of people who visit the emergency room for dental conditions, by referring them to community health centers or private dental practices, where they can receive proper dental care;
Expanding access to care for the vulnerable elderly in nursing homes;
Supporting charitable programs like Give Kids A Smile and Missions of Mercy, through which directly provide care to disadvantaged children and adults who are suffering from lack of dental care today;
Ensuring more Americans have access to drinking water with fluoride; and
Strengthening collaborations with other health professionals and organizations.
Dr. Feinberg pledged the ADA's full effort to build support for and ultimately pass this bill.
"Representatives Kelly and Simpson are stepping up for the nation's oral health," said Dr. Feinberg. "The 158,000 members of the American Dental Association will do everything possible to help them pass this bill into law."