SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 4

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR COX

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAHLGREN)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 4: MEDICARE COVERAGE OF DENTAL CARE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER ROUTINE DENTAL CARE OR MOST DENTAL PROCEDURES, OR PAY FOR DENTAL PLATES OR OTHER DENTAL DEVICES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXTEND MEDICARE COVERAGE TO COVER ROUTINE DENTAL CARE AND DENTAL PROCEDURES, AND TO PAY FOR DENTAL PLATES OR OTHER DEVICES.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 4: RELATING TO MEDICARE COVERAGE OF DENTAL CARE

WHEREAS, DENTAL DISEASES IN SENIORS FREQUENTLY GO UNTREATED, AND THIS LACK OF TREATMENT CAN LEAD TO NEEDLESS PAIN AND SUFFERING; AND

WHEREAS, UNTREATED DENTAL DISEASES MAY DEVASTATE AN INDIVIDUAL’S WELL-BEING AND RESULT IN FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL COSTS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISH THE PERSON’S QUALITY OF LIFE AND BURDEN SOCIETY; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS HAVE THE POOREST ORAL HEALTH OF ANY AGE GROUP IN THE POPULATION; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS HAVE A 300 PERCENT HIGHER RATE OF CAVITIES THAN CHILDREN; AND

WHEREAS, 17 PERCENT OF PERSONS AGED 65 YEARS AND OLDER SUFFER FROM MODERATE AND SEVERE PERIODONTITIS (GUM DISEASE); AND

WHEREAS, APPROXIMATELY 5 PERCENT OF AMERICANS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, AROUND 1,600,000 INDIVIDUALS, RESIDE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHERE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE
IS OFTEN PROBLEMATIC; AND

WHEREAS, ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN NURSING HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE FREQUENTLY LEFT UNADDRESSED; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT MEDICARE COVERAGE BE EXTENDED TO COVER ROUTINE DENTAL CARE AND DENTAL PROCEDURES, AND TO PAY FOR DENTAL PLATES OR OTHER DEVICES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN 08 21902

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