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This
week we discuss why some believe the Affordable Care Act isn’t doing enough for
dental plans, learn what South Carolina is doing to improve the oral health of
all its citizens, and discover that good healthcare for kids depends on where
you live. Don’t forget to check out our new blog series, Why it Matters to Me. Join the
conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.
1.
Shortchanged in ACA, dentists hope exchanges can boost
coverage: The Affordable Care
Act impacts health care providers of all types, but dentists were largely
disappointed by its shortcomings in expanding dental coverage. While the ACA
deemed dental benefits "essential," requiring insurers to offer
dental plans to children up to age 18, the law did not mandate that those plans
be purchased, and insurers don't have to offer the same plans for adults. But
on the positive side, Dr. Anthony Giamberardino, president of the Massachusetts
Dental Society, believes state and federal health care exchanges, the
marketplaces where consumers can shop for health and dental insurance, have
made people more aware of available dental plans, which could prompt more
people to buy coverage.
2.
Dental gap: Coverage slips through reform's cracks: Dental care is a peculiar niche of the U.S. healthcare
system. Even though teeth and gums are just as much part of the human body as
kidneys or elbows, they are insured differently—a lot differently. The question
becomes how much the law has done to advance dental care. Not enough, some advocates
argue. The Affordable Care Act mandated pediatric dental services as one of the
10 essential health benefits for health plans, but adult dental services were
excluded.
3.
SC's Healthy Connections program supports oral health: South Carolina's new
Medicaid adult dental program emphasizes prevention. That's important because
dental problems -- cavities and gum disease – are largely preventable if caught
early. We salute the state of South Carolina for the bold steps it has taken to
ensure eligible adults have the opportunity for good oral health.
4.
How Good Is Healthcare for Kids? Depends on Your ZIP Code: The Department of Health and Human Services has allowed
states to choose from a menu of benchmark plans, instead of establishing a
federal gold standard for children's health (a decision that runs contrary to
the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine). For example, a child with
autism or a stuttering problem might fare better or worse depending on where he
or she lives. The only way to remedy these problems is for HHS to revise the
current essential benefits plan and bar treatment limits and exclusions for
children, especially those related to disability or other developmental health
conditions.
5.
What your teeth are trying to tell you: Statistics show periodontal disease affects over 85
percent of the population. But there's more to your mouth than tooth decay and
gum disease. There are some secrets your teeth could be trying to tell you.