Improving Dental Access for Patients with Disabilities
The ADA showed support for equal access to dental care for all patients and offered several ideas on how Congress can ensure greater health outcomes for people with disabilities by providing accommodations in health care settings and further developing a health care workforce that understands the needs of people with disabilities.
In response to a Congressional request for information on “Disability Policies in the 21st Century: Building Opportunities for Work and Inclusion,” ADA President Cesar R. Sabates, D.D.S., and Executive Director Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S., shared the ADA’s thoughts on how Congress can help the ADA and dentists meet these goals. The ADA leaders asked Congress to expand Section 741 of the Public Health Service Act to include more funding for dentists to make these accommodations and to increase the Disabled Access Credit that dental offices and other small businesses can use to make accommodations for people with disabilities.
The ADA also urged Congress to provide grants for the training and continuing education of dentists on treating patients with disabilities to dental schools, dental residency and fellowship programs, and dental associations like the ADA, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and Special Care Dentistry Association.
Impacts on dentistry: Many dental practices are small businesses and may struggle to pay for the equipment and renovations necessary to see patients with disabilities. The grant funding is needed to help dental offices purchase equipment or to build, renovate, and expand in order to see patients with disabilities. This will help expand access to care for this vulnerable population.
[Contact: Natalie Hales 202-898-2404 or halesn@ada.org]
MOBILE Health Care Act Passes Congress
In September, the House of Representatives passed the Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment (MOBILE) Health Care Act. This bipartisan legislation supported by the ADA would give community health centers more flexibility in using New Access Points grants for mobile health care units. As an organization dedicated to improving the oral health of the public, the ADA recognizes the critical role that mobile dental units play in bringing care to underserved areas and populations and promoting oral health equity. The legislation also passed the Senate earlier this month and now awaits the President’s signature.
Impacts on dentistry: Passage of this legislation will provide expanded flexibility that would allow health centers to use grant funds in the best way possible to reach underserved communities
[Contact: Natalie Hales 202-898-2404 or halesn@ada.org]
Partnership for Medicaid Urges Congress to Address Inequities in Medicaid Affecting U.S. territories
The Partnership for Medicaid, of which the ADA is a member, is urging lawmakers to pass legislation addressing the upcoming Medicaid fiscal cliff in Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. The partnership urged Congress to address the impending Medicaid fiscal cliff in the Sept. 29 letter sent to leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Without Congressional intervention, each territory’s federal medical assistance percentage will be lowered back to 55% in December, harming access to care for millions of Medicaid beneficiaries.
Impacts on dentistry: Due to limitations in the funding statute, the Medicaid program operates differently in the U.S. territories compared to those of the states through capped funding and a fixed federal medical assistance percentage. This results in fewer federal dollars supporting the territories, which affects the financial viability of their Medicaid programs, including dental.
[Contact: David Linn 202-789-5170 or linnd@ada.org]
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