Washington –U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) marked National Dental Association Day on Capitol Hill Thursday by addressing dental professionals and policy makers on the importance of oral health care as part of comprehensive health care coverage.   Senator Cardin worked to ensure passage of key provisions of the Affordable Care Act that required states to include pediatric oral health care as part of the Essential Benefits package. The Affordable Care Act allows dental benefits coverage to be made available through either comprehensive medical plans or stand-alone dental plans. 

“I would like to thank the National Dental Association for all they do to provide quality care to Americans with unmet dental needs. Being without dental coverage can be expensive, painful, and –as we saw in Prince George’s County with the 2007 death of Demonte Driver – deadly,” said Senator Cardin. “I stand with the NDA in fighting for dental coverage as an essential benefit for all Americans. I am proud that thanks to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act, millions of children have access to oral health care that they lacked before. The National Dental Association has been instrumental in expanding coverage to those in need, especially underserved minority communities. The work they do matters. I congratulate all the members of the NDA for the good they have done and look forward to working with them in the future.  There is more to be done and I know the NDA will continue to be a vital partner in this journey.”

Senator Cardin has worked with The National Dental Association to promote access to oral health for minorities, the disabled, elderly and other underserved populations.

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