Posted: | January 18, 2013 11:19 AM |
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From: | Senator Bob Mensch |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | LBFC Study of Dental Care for People with Disabilities |
I am re-introducing a resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study of the disparities that exist in accessing and receiving dental care among persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth. Many individuals with disabilities have difficulty in not only finding a dentist who take their dental insurance, but also have trouble finding a dental office that is handicap accessible within the office. Dentists may not have experience or training in performing dental services on a person with disabilities who may have needs above and beyond a traditional patient. Some dental insurance plans seem reluctant to pay for services that may not be routine in dental care but necessary for a person with disabilities to receive adequate dental care. Research has shown a correlation between good dental hygiene and overall good health. A simple cleaning and check-up is not so simple for many people with disabilities. This resolution will help in determining the obstacles they may have in obtaining quality dental services. This was Senate Resolution 170 of 2011-2012 and previous co-sponsors were BAKER, FONTANA, ARGALL, TOMLINSON, GORDNER, TARTAGLIONE, VOGEL, ERICKSON, COSTA, BREWSTER, SCHWANK, LEACH, GREENLEAF, DINNIMAN, McILHINNEY, ALLOWAY, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, FARNESE and STACK. |
Introduced as SR61