Bill H.1529

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1562 FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1529

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John W. Scibak

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to adult dental restoration.

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PETITION OF:

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Harriette L. Chandler		1/24/2011
Peter V. Kocot	1st Hampshire	2/1/2011
Stephen R. Canessa	12th Bristol	2/2/2011
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.	26th Middlesex	2/2/2011
George T. Ross	2nd Bristol	2/2/2011
Thomas M. McGee	Third Essex	2/3/2011
Elizabeth A. Malia	11th Suffolk	2/3/2011
Denise Andrews	2nd Franklin	2/3/2011
Jennifer L. Flanagan		2/3/2011
James M. Murphy	4th Norfolk	2/3/2011
Alice K. Wolf	25th Middlesex	2/4/2011
Antonio F. D. Cabral	13th Bristol	2/4/2011
James B. Eldridge		2/4/2011
David Paul Linsky	5th Middlesex	2/4/2011
Brian M. Ashe	2nd Hampden	2/4/2011
Gale D. Candaras		2/4/2011
Harold P. Naughton, Jr.	12th Worcester	2/4/2011
Ellen Story	3rd Hampshire	2/4/2011
Frank I. Smizik	15th Norfolk	1/27/2011
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.	34th Middlesex	1/27/2011
William Smitty Pignatelli	4th Berkshire	1/27/2011
Ruth B. Balser	12th Middlesex	1/31/2011
Kay Khan	11th Middlesex	2/1/2011
Theodore C. Speliotis	13th Essex	1/26/2011
William N. Brownsberger		1/25/2011

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1562 FILED ON: 1/20/2011

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1529

By Mr. Scibak of South Hadley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1529) of Harriette L. Chandler and others relative to the restoration of oral health benefits for MassHealth recipients. Public Health.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to adult dental restoration.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The General Court hereby finds that:

(a)Oral Health is Overall Health;

(b)left untreated, dental decay causes pain and suffering to thousands of adults, negatively impacts the health and well being of children and families, and has a significant effect on our workforce and business community;

(c)dental cleanings and extractions alone are not adequate care. Dental decay is a bacterial infection and the only way that you can stop this infection from spreading and affecting health is with comprehensive care; and,

(d)cuts to oral health coverage wastes millions in extensive and costly services in emergency and inpatient hospital settings due to dental infections.

SECTION 2. Item 4000-0300 of section 2 of chapter 131 of the acts of 2010 is hereby amended by striking the words "provided further, that such plan may include, but not be limited to, limiting, eliminating or otherwise restructuring services delivered to adult members of the MassHealth program" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- provided further, that such plan may include, but not be limited to, limiting, eliminating or otherwise restructuring services, other than dental services, delivered to adult members of the MassHealth program.

SECTION 3. Section 145 of said chapter 131 of the acts of 2010 is hereby repealed.