Sanders, Cummings Propose Bill on Dental Crisis

[Playinghardball]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) today introduced legislation to dramatically improve access to dental care.

The Comprehensive Dental Reform Act would expand dental coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and the Department of Veterans Affairs, filling the gap for the more than 1 in 4 Americans who lack dental insurance.

The bill was filed in the Senate and House on today’s 8th anniversary of the death of Deamonte Driver, a Maryland youth who died when a simple abscessed tooth caused an infection that spread to his brain.

“We have a dental crisis in America. Tens of millions of Americans cannot afford to see a dentist or live in parts of the country where there are no dentists. Because untreated dental problems can have serious health consequences, we must ensure that people have access to care before it’s too late,” Sanders said.

“Most people think of oral health and imagine whiter teeth or a straighter smile. What we learned from Deamonte is that oral health is an essential link to overall health,” said Cummings. “We can no longer afford to consider dental care as an optional service.”

In addition to expanding dental coverage, the House and Senate bills would:

• Address difficulties faced by the more than 47 million Americans who live in areas of the country lacking enough dentists to serve the population.

• Address the shortage in dental care providers that accept Medicaid.

• Expand National Health Services Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs to include dental care.

• Authorize funding to increase access to dental services at clinics such as community health centers and school-based health centers.

• Integrate oral health care with overall health care through additional support for programs to educate non-dental health professionals about oral health.

• Authorize additional funding for oral health research.

In the Senate, Sanders’ bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.). House co-sponsors are Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C. The bill is supported by more than 20 public health organizations, including the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the American Public Health Association, the Children’s Dental Health Project, Families USA, and the National Association of Community Health Centers.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-cummings-propose-bill-on-dental-crisis

[yeoman6987]

1. Yes! Finally a real live issue that needs addressed!

Dental is so important to overall health and yet most dental insurance is crap and that is if you have it at all. Thank you!!!!!

[FSogol]

2. K&R. Unfortunately, threads like this sink like a stone on DU.

Oh, yeah? Prove me wrong.

[pinboy3niner]

3. You're wrong

To most DUers this is a molar issue!

[FSogol]

5. They are on the cuspid of a biting issue.

[pinboy3niner]

8. I think your point has teeth

But...is it safe?

[FSogol]

11. Safer than this dentist

[pinboy3niner]

14. Bazinga!

[trusty elf]

54. Yo, Pinboy!

I just thought I'd gratuitously throw this one out there.

[img][/img]

[pinboy3niner]

65. Is that Laura's widdle Smuggums?

[VWolf]

15. Or this one:

[pinboy3niner]

19. Or this one...

[FSogol]

21. Or this one...

[ND-Dem]

38. who is she?

[FSogol]

49. Birther queen, Orly Taitz. n/t

[ND-Dem]

60. thanks

[nichomachus]

13. If you drill down, you may find the answer n/t

[VWolf]

18. Ok, now I'm confused and completely flossed n/t

[FSogol]

20. Let's try and extract the root canal of your difficulties. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

22. Ether that or try something easier and quicker

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

[passiveporcupine]

30. did you mean palate?

[pinboy3niner]

47. Partially

[raven mad]

43. Drill, baby, drill!

[aspirant]

7. The wisdom teeth

are aptly named

[tosh]

4. Kick!

[Autumn]

6. It will be voted down but I would love to hear the democrats shouting

this from the roof tops. That's how to support the troops. Love my Bernie. and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings

[Mika]

9. Of course, the ADA is all for this....

[joshcryer]

50. Wait the ADA is against this?

[Mika]

55. Not on the list linked on the page.

The ADA is inhabited primarily by wealthy "conservatives" looking for more 1%er tax cuts, not expanded social programs they'll be taxed for.

Same organization that says mercury in your mouth is safe.

[jwirr]

10. A yearly checkup and cleaning should have been included in the free preventatives section of the ACA

[LittleGirl]

25. +1000 n/t

[passiveporcupine]

31. absolutely n/t

[BrotherIvan]

46. Yup

But oh no, this wasn't about people's health. It was about insurance.

[JimDandy]

12. Good for them. Hope they find some way

to get the votes.

[mountain grammy]

16. Dental coverage for children is offered under the ACA

but this is an important issue.

In the last few weeks I've run into three friends who have new teeth. All got Medicaid cards this year, so I know that's a factor.

[HappyMe]

17. k&r

[99th_Monkey]

23. WOW - It's about time. Thank you Bernie!!

I've had my own serious issues teeth-wise. Broke two front teeth, which was going to cost like $5000 to deal with, which I did not have, not even close. I had already maxed-out a loan program and couldn't make payments ... it was hellish ... it really made this issue personal for me.

I have gotten them fixed since then, with money inherited, but I had waited so long, it was even more expensive when I finally had the money to fix them.

[Phlem]

24. Wow. A politician working for the people.

But of course it's Bernie.

There's only a handful of them in the whole of congress.

Run Bernie Run!

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Something badly needed, Americans will support this strongly and maybe even force it though

this Congress. Bad bicuspids are a bipartisan issue.

[Greybnk48]

27. K&R and long overdue!

Love to both Sanders and Cummings for doing their jobs.

[WillyT]

28. K & R !!!

[erronis]

29. Mouth, and why not eye care too?

It's sorta weird how we treat parts of our bodies as "extra" and need extra insurance or coverage.

Oral sanitation and tooth care have been shown to greatly improve other functions of the body. I think I've heard that infections in the mouth can be a contributor to heart problems.

Having reasonably healthy eyes (sightedness, lack of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal problems) can vastly improve ones life and help the individual take care of themselves.

[passiveporcupine]

32. here here

or should I say hear hear. Is hearing covered? I've never needed it. But you do get some vision care under Medicare, like checkups for glaucoma and tears and things. Mine was covered. Just no prescription or glasses coverage, which is a shame because glasses are so expensive. I haven't gotten new glasses in over 14 years now. And I won't even talk about my dental problems. Who can afford it any more...not on SS.

[appalachiablue]

40. Yes, hearing is very impt. too not only for seniors but kids for whom it can be serious if not

attended, as in infections or 'glue ear' blockage from colds that ENTs use tiny ear tubes to drain. Usually ear tests and treatment aren't that costly. Hearing is so vital; pitiful what this country's care is. Eyeglasses are very expensive these days too.

[appalachiablue]

33. So true. Dental/gum plaque can be linked with heart disease. Like teeth, eyes & vision are crucial.

Thank God for Sen. Sanders & Rep. Cummings. First world, wealthiest country on the globe USA?!

[one_voice]

34. K&R

this is desperately needed.

[valerief]

35. Leave it to non-GOPers to introduce such a bill. Hope it has some life.

But I'm not hopeful with this disgusting Congress. No GOP co-sponsors. Of course, not. All they want is WAR.

[freshwest]

48. And to end all healthcare programs... And SS, etc. We'll see how it goes.

[Bonobo]

36. Good.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8319034&mesg_id=8319034

[ALBliberal]

37. The only match I can think of for Senator Sanders is Ted Kennedy

In terms of really caring about the poor and working class and the country's overall fiscal health and destiny. And both so knowledgeable and dedicated.

[JDPriestly]

39. K&R. Dental health is so important.

[The Wizard]

41. Anything that helps the American people

gets scuttled by Repubics.

[C Moon]

42. Great. I've never understood why dental care is separated from medical.

Poor dental care can cause serious health problems.

[RKP5637]

53. Me neither! Dental problems can cause very serious medical problems in ones body

resulting in tremendous pain, suffering and huge medical bills, even death. If the dental condition had been caught early in dental exams/treatment it could have been stopped before serious.

[C Moon]

64. +1

[juajen]

58. So you can tell the rich from the poor.

The rich have children whose teeth are perfect from babydom to adulthood. It's a fraternity/sorority that only the perfect can enter. Fortunately, I was born with good teeth, but, need dental work, now, but cannot aford it.

[C Moon]

63. Very true!

[The Wizard]

44. fyi

[totodeinhere]

45. Every American deserves quality dental care, period.

Nobody should have to suffer through the indignity of having bad teeth.

[Enthusiast]

51. K&R! Yay, Bernie!

Coincidentally I have a dental appointment today.

[RKP5637]

52. Dental cost is outrageous. I had to have a straight forward root canal. The cost

was about $1,000. My insurance at the time cover 50%. But really, it ANY dentist worth $1,000/hr?

[locks]

56. Dental and hearing care

are the terrible cavities in health care. How can we have any kind of decent life if we are in pain, at risk of infection, cannot eat solid food? Or are trapped in a lonely world because we cannot afford thousands of dollars for hearing aids?

I had two large old fillings fall out at the same time, my dentist charged $150 for the exam and x-rays, then told me it would be at least $3000 for fillings and crowns. I went to visit my daughter who lives in Mexico, had excellent dental care there and was charged $200. Why can't the richest country in the world have at least as good and affordable dental care as one of the poorest?

Why are the legislators who have free dental care paid for by our taxes able to keep it from the rest of us?

[packman]

57. About time

they take the bite out of dental costs. Finding out as my wife and I sail down that beautiful river of old age that dental costs have now become a major part of our medical expenses.
Seems like Bernie Sanders only does good things , or at least tries, for us. Perhaps we need more Independents in Congress.

[tenderfoot]

59. kick

[rhett o rick]

61. I guess thinking that Americans deserve decent dental care is a liberal issue.

Strange. Maybe because Sen Sanders suggested it.

[Michigan-Arizona]

62. Mexico dentist

Hubby & I went to Mexico to get ours done as it was way cheaper & are very satisfied with it. A friend of our daughters flew out here for me to take her down to get hers done. She had it priced out in Michigan at around $25,000 to $30,000.... It cost her the price of her flight out to Arizona & $4,200 to get it done down there....

[NickB79]

66. Can we just stop this piecemeal health insurance bullshit and get universal coverage already?

Like all the other civilized nations on this planet?

[Corey_Baker08]

67. As A 25 Year Old That Needs Dentures Soo Bad I Cried Reading This...

People look at me like I must be a druggie because I was in a car accident and a majority of my teeth are missing or broken.

I can't get a good job, I can't bring myself to ask someone out because even though my physical appearance is great as soon as I smile all is lost.

Dentures are out of my price range & everyday I pray that I will somehow be able to get my teeth fixed. I have not only lost my smile I've lost my confidence & my social life at an age where I should be meeting that special someone.

My life is over until I can get my teeth fixed & unfortunately that's not financially possible. I literally just feel like giving up...

[locks]

68. I'm so sorry

there are so many people having this terrible problem. It's shameful that insurance will cover cancer of the mouth even if it's from chewing tobacco but will not cover any care that will prevent severe infections or help you chew solid food.
I was a social worker for many years; I saw many older people suffer and unable to eat healthy food. It is even harder for young people and you've probably made every effort possible. In Colorado we used to have some free care from a few dentists through United Way and religious charities. There may still be some public university dental schools giving some care and fitting dentures if you live near enough to one.

We will be thinking of you and supporting every little step toward universal health care, including dental, hearing and vision care.

[Corey_Baker08]

69. Thank-you Very Much & We Will Continue The Fight For Universal Healthcare With You!

[daredtowork]

70. What someone should emphasize

is that lack of dental care contributes to inflammation in the rest of the body. That exacerbates high blood pressure and all sorts of other chronic conditions, and it's a massive drag on the costs of health care. Diabetes and heart problems can both be linked to inflammation. This is actually a cheap way to get at problems before they become massively expensive, possibly disabling, issues.

Another thing someone should put on the table: if you don't give people direct cash via welfare, and you can't buy anything but food with food stamps, then you can't purchase tooth paste, tooth brush, floss, and other oral hygiene supplies. *I'm looking at you OAKLAND*