Senator Rosenwald’s Bill to Provide Medicaid Dental Benefits Moves Forward
Contact Name: Sara Persechino
Phone: (603) 271-3479
Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us
CONCORD - Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed amendment 1372s to HB 250, establishing a dental benefit under the state Medicaid program. The amendment was sponsored by Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) and mirrors the language of her bill, SB 754.
After the committee vote, amendment sponsor Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) issued the following statement:
“We have heard repeatedly in public testimony from dental professionals that a lack of access to preventative dental care can lead to long term negative health effects and, when not caught and treated early, emergency medical procedures. In total, New Hampshire currently spends around $1.5 million per year on dental related emergency room visits.
By providing coverage to the over 90,000 adults currently enrolled in traditional and expanded Medicaid, this bill helps to increase the health and financial security for those individuals, expand access to this critical portion of our health care system, and save the state money in emergency care costs. This measure is long past due and has already been accounted for in the budget. I thank my Senate colleagues for their work today and their continued efforts on this legislation.”
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