HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2904        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2464

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Louis L. Kafka

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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 resolve:

Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the safety of dental amalgam.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2904        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2464

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2000 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the safety of dental amalgam.

Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of conducting an investigation and study of the safety of dental amalgam.

The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; 1 member to be appointed by the Senate President, 1 member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 member to be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; 1 member to be appointed by the House Minority Leader, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human services or his/her designee; the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or his/her designee; the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance or his/her designee; the executive Director of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission or his/her designee; 1 physician from the Massachusetts Medical Society; 1 toxicologist from the  Massachusetts Medical Society; and 1 representative from each the each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Dental Society; MA Public Health Association; and the largest dental insurance company in the Commonwealth (at the time of the formation of the commission).

Such investigation and study shall include, but not be limited to;

(a) the acceptable level of mercury in the human body and the accuracy of various tests in measuring cumulative body burden,

(b) effects that the genes commonly known as ApoE4 and CPOX4 have on sensitivity to mercury,

(c) causes of decomposition and off-gassing of mercury vapor in dental amalgam,

(d) safer alternatives to dental amalgam,

(e) procedures for safer removal of dental amalgam when medically indicated, and

(f) protocols for mercury detoxification when medically indicated.

Such commission shall consider recommendations for all these items as well as recommendations for, but not limited to;

(a) dental insurance plans (both public and private) offering cost-neutral (same percentage of coverage) for safer alternatives,

(b) public education regarding dental amalgam,

(c) specific informed consent prior of the use of dental amalgam in dental procedures, and

(d) health insurance and/or dental insurance coverage for various test and treatment protocols.

Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations on or before November 15, 2014.