Several bills aimed at improving Pennsylvanians’ access to dental care are currently moving through the legislature with broad support from lawmakers.
an account, Parliamentary Bill 1585, would set up teledentistry in Pennsylvania and require insurance plans to cover it. The bill is sponsored by state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny).
“When you can’t get the dental care you need, all outcomes get worse. Mistakes in dental care can make eating or speaking difficult and lead to serious health conditions. The pain of gaps in dental care can make it hard to function at all,” Frankel said of the legislation. “It is nothing short of unethical to allow this necessary care to remain out of reach.”
Frankel’s legislation passed the House on Tuesday in a 163-40 vote and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Before resigning her seat to run for Allegheny County executive, Sara Innamorato presented Parliamentary Bill 1417which would restore dental coverage under the state’s Medicaid program after coverage cuts in 2011 eliminated services like root canals and emergency exams.
State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) defended the legislation in Innamorato’s absence.
“When something as necessary as a root canal is not covered by Medicaid, children and adults who rely on this help often have no choice but to forgo treatments or procedures that are fundamental to their physical and mental well-being,” Kinkead said. week. “Income should never dictate access to dental care, but it does here in Pennsylvania, and that’s what we’re trying to change with these bills.”
Similar to Frankel’s bill, HB 1417 passed the House on Tuesday in a 153-50 vote.
Despite no longer serving in the state’s lower house, Innamorato reacted to news of the bill’s passage in a statement:
“Medical Aid needs to provide a dental package that includes these life-saving services because no one should have to choose between their dental health or paying rent,” Innamorato said. “Teeth should no longer be considered ‘luxury bones’ in Pennsylvania. I am thrilled that the House passed this legislation and I urge the Senate to do the same.”
A third dental care bill aimed at improving access to dental care for the commonwealth’s children has already passed the General Assembly with unanimous support and now awaits the governor’s signature.
Parliamentary Bill 1478sponsored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia), will modify Pennsylvania Public School Code to allow the exploitation of the regions dental hygiene for preventive dental health checks of students. Current state law allows only school dentists to provide this service.
“Children with poor oral health status were nearly three times more likely than their peers to miss school as a result of dental pain, which creates further urgency to fill the gaps in our overall dental system,” Cephas said. “This legislation relaxes current law and will allow school districts the flexibility to screen more students and catch potential dental problems while also preventing future problems.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Cephas’ bill into law Thursday.
