SCHIP Should Include Dental Benefits, Sens. Bingaman, Cardin Write

Congress "should take action to ensure that all children have access" to dental care by requiring states to provide coverage through SCHIP for those enrolled in the program, as well as for children with private insurance that does not include dental coverage, Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) write in a Washington Post letter to the editor. The senators write that such a provision could be added to SCHIP when the program is reauthorized this year. Tooth decay, the most prevalent childhood disease, can be debilitating and sometimes fatal but is easily preventable and can be treated at a low cost, according to Bingaman and Cardin. "Equally important is ensuring there are enough oral health care providers available to treat children across the country and that they are adequately compensated for their services," Bingaman and Cardin write. The senators note that they have introduced legislation, called the Children's Dental Health Improvement Act (S 739), that would expand school-based dental sealant programs, encourage dental schools to train more residents, increase Medicaid and SCHIP payments to providers, and provide incentives for dentists who work in underserved areas of the country. Bingaman and Cardin conclude, "America has never promised its children success, but it has always promised them opportunity. Children who suffer from untreated tooth decay are often denied this opportunity because of dental pain that limits their ability to eat, sleep, learn ... or enjoy life itself" (Bingaman/Cardin, Washington Post, 3/18).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.