Insights Column

The Silent Epidemic: The Lack of Oral Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities

On February 25, 2007, seventh grader Deamonte Driver died from what many would have considered a simple toothache. Deamonte died because an abscess in his tooth was not treated, and the infection spre...

Common-Sense Legislation Would Extend Funding for CHIP

Earlier today, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) along with Representatives Gene Green (D-TX) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced legislatio...

10 Health Advocacy Highlights from the 2016 Legislative Sessions

Despite a divided Congress in Washington, many state policymakers around the country, supported by advocates, reached across the aisle to make needed improvements to the health care system. Governo...

Health and Health Care in the 2017 State Legislatures: Opportunities, Threats, and What to Expect in 2018

2017 has been an eventful year for health and health care legislation in the states. Despite the challenges critical health programs face at the federal level, states have continued to move forward to...

5 Reasons We Are Celebrating CHIP’s 10- Year Extension this National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Along with celebrating Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and the Lunar New Year this February we are also elevating kids' oral health for National Children’s Dental Health Month! There is a lot...

Public Supports Better Insurance Coverage for Dental Care, Survey Finds

Mouths matter—that is the finding in a national survey on public support for dental coverage. More than 80 percent of people who were asked said they supported providing publicly-funded dental ca...

In Cynical Move, Kentucky Governor Bevin Cuts Vision and Dental Care to Retaliate Against Court’s Medicaid Ruling

Suppose you wanted to help a homeless veteran find a job, but the vet had some sore teeth and needed glasses. Wouldn’t it make sense to cover the oral health and vision care to help him? That won...

Federal Government Could Make Children’s Oral Health Insurance More Affordable

Oral health care is vital to a child’s overall health. This summer, the U.S. Treasury Department proposed a change in the rules for financial assistance in the health insurance marketplace that, if...

Repeal and Replace Could Reverse Progress on Oral Health

Former U.S. surgeon generals refer to oral disease as a “silent epidemic” affecting some of our most vulnerable citizens. People who lack coverage for oral health care are likely to forego prev...

Medicare Should Pay for Oral Health Care That Is Necessary to Manage Serious Illnesses

Oral health is an important part of overall health for everyone – but it can be crucially important to someone who is fighting a serious condition, such as kidney failure, an autoimmune disease, can...