Today the Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing for An Act to Include Fluoride Varnish Service in All Health Insurance Coverage in the Commonwealth (H. 1032 / S. 463).
MassHealth began offering a fluoride varnish benefit through medical providers in 2008. These physicians are now able to apply fluoride varnish in the course of a well child visit to prevent dental disease. Currently, twenty-five states reimburse physicians for providing basic preventive oral health care for children during well child visits, the most common reimbursement being fluoride varnish application.
Senator Chandler opened the hearing, testifying that fluoride varnish is an important preventive measure, stating that the bill would bring private insurers up to best practice standards and make a huge difference for children. She urged the committee to report the bill out favorably.
Dr. Andrew Balder of Springfield testified next. He noted that as a pediatrician, he sees the links between oral health and overall health every day. He explained that poor oral health has a negative impact on a child’s ability to eat, sleep, and pay attention in school, and that it has been linked to a multitude of other health issues. He stressed the importance of preventive care, and how easy and effective it is for health care providers to apply fluoride varnish; just yesterday he provided the service for two siblings and it took approximately two minutes to complete.
Dr. Ana Zea, a dentist and instructor in the Community Health Programs division at the Boston University Dental School was the last to testify on the Fluoride Varnish bill. She drove home the importance of fluoride varnish as a preventive measure, and urged the committee to pass the bill to expand access to the benefit. She stressed that children often visit pediatricians long before they see a dentist, and that makes it essential for the benefit to be reimbursed through private health insurance.
If enacted, this bill will bring private insurers in line with best practices and provide all children in the Commonwealth with access to this effective preventive measure. It will also increase access to preventive measures and improve the oral health and overall health of vulnerable populations, such as persons with special health care needs.
-Courtney Chelo
Can someone please direct me to the list of the 25 states that currently reimburse physicians for providing basic preventive oral health care for children during a well child visit as stated in the above article.
Thanks for sharing this great news. I’m sure this will be of great help to the people who have no sufficient means for dental treatment.