[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2422 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2422
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve essential oral health
care for low-income and other underserved individuals by breaking down
barriers to care, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2017
Ms. Kelly of Illinois (for herself and Mr. Simpson) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve essential oral health
care for low-income and other underserved individuals by breaking down
barriers to care, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Action for Dental Health Act of
2017''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) More than 181 million Americans will not visit a
dentist even though nearly half of people over 30 suffer from
some form of gum disease and nearly one in four children under
the age of five already have cavities.
(2) Many volunteer dental projects sponsored by national,
State, and local dental societies provide free care now to
those most in need. Annually, dentists deliver an estimated
$2.6 billion in free and discounted care according to the
America's Dentists Care Foundation.
(3) It is estimated that emergency department (ED) charges
for dental complaints totaled up to $2.1 billion in 2010.
Nearly 80 percent of the dental emergency room visits were
nonurgent and could have been seen in a dental office. Shifting
those ED visits to a dental office translates into potential
cost savings of up to $1.7 billion a year and offers the
possibility of establishing a ``dental home'' for these
individuals.
(4) Seniors, especially those in nursing homes and long-
term care facilities, often have special dental needs and
complicated medical histories that require consultation between
dentists and fellow medical professionals in providing an
interdisciplinary approach to their overall health needs.
SEC. 3. VOLUNTEER DENTAL PROJECTS AND ACTION FOR DENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
Section 317M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-14)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections
(g) and (h), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (d), the following new
subsection:
``(e) Grants To Support Volunteer Dental Projects.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may
award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities
to obtain portable or mobile dental equipment, and pay for
appropriate operational costs, for the provision of free dental
services to underserved populations that are delivered in a
manner consistent with State licensing laws.
``(2) Eligible entity.--In this subsection, the term
`eligible entity' includes a State or local dental association,
a State oral health program, a dental education, dental hygiene
education, or postdoctoral dental education program accredited
by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or a community-based
organization that partners with an academic institution, that--
``(A) is exempt from tax under section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
``(B) offers a free dental services program for
underserved populations.
``(f) Action for Dental Health Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may
award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities
to collaborate with State, county, or local public officials
and other stakeholders to develop and implement initiatives to
accomplish any of the following goals:
``(A) To improve oral health education and dental
disease prevention, including through community-wide
prevention programs, through the use of dental sealants
and fluoride varnish, and by increasing oral health
literacy.
``(B) To make the health care delivery system
providing dental services more accessible and efficient
through the development and expansion of outreach
programs that will facilitate the establishment of
dental homes for children and adults, including for the
aged, blind, and disabled populations.
``(C) To reduce geographic barriers, language
barriers, cultural barriers, and other similar barriers
to the provision of dental services.
``(D) To help reduce the use of emergency
departments by individuals who seek dental services
more appropriately delivered in a dental primary care
setting.
``(E) To facilitate the provision of dental care to
nursing home residents who are disproportionately
affected by the lack of dental care.
``(2) Eligible entity.--In this subsection, the term
`eligible entity' includes a State or local dental association;
a State oral health program; or a dental education, dental
hygiene, or postdoctoral dental education program accredited by
the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or a community-based
organization that partners with an academic institution, that--
``(A) is exempt from tax under section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
``(B) partners with public and private stakeholders
to facilitate the provision of dental services for
underserved populations.''; and
(3) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by
inserting ``and $18,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2018
through 2022'' after ``fiscal years 2001 through 2005''.
<all>