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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 20, 2023 04:25 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Sara Innamorato and Rep. Valerie S. Gaydos, Rep. Emily Kinkead |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restoring Dental Coverage for Medical Assistance Recipients |
| It is an understatement to say that dental health is important: our oral hygiene impacts our ability to express emotions, converse with family members, and dictates our ability to eat. Regular dental check-ups also play a critical role in early detection of oral, head, and neck cancers. Additionally, dental health can affect our self-esteem and productivity in the workplace while also costing us hundreds of dollars a year when we do not take care of our teeth. However, Pennsylvania is failing its most vulnerable residents. Cuts made in 2011 to dental coverage under our state’s Medical Assistance program prevent many low-income Pennsylvanians from receiving the oral health care they need. The current plan provides coverage for routine cleanings and fillings, but services like root canals, periodontal disease work and emergency exams were eliminated out of concerns for cost. That is why we are introducing legislation to restore dental coverage for Medical Assistance recipients. Our bill ensures that, moving forward, Medical Assistance provides a dental benefit package that includes those coverages that existed before cuts made in 2011 without removing any existing dental coverage. We believe everyone deserves access to quality health care, and that someone should not have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table just to ensure they can pay for a much-needed oral operation. Please join us in co-sponsoring this vital legislation. |
Introduced as HB1417