Advocates Say Dental Benefits Restoration Is A Life-Saving Matter
Advocates Say Dental Benefits Restoration Is A Life-Saving Matter
Thursday,
May 15, 2003 - 03:13 AM

NORTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey – Katherine Grant-Davis, executive director of the New Jersey Primary Care Association and Dr. Burton Nussbaum, a pediatric dentist and expert in dental care for persons with special needs, will deliver testimony today before the State Senate Budget Committee. Their testimony will be focused on saving the $15 million adult Medicaid dental benefits portion of the budget that Governor McGreevey has targeted for elimination, which would block dental care access for more than 400,000 poor and developmentally disabled adults in New Jersey.
“Since 1979, I have seen and treated thousands of disabled patients on Medicaid,” said Dr. Nussbaum, who also teaches classes for medical students on oral health for persons with special needs. “Eliminate the Medicaid dental benefit and thousands of disabled people face a potential death sentence,” he added. Dr. Nussbaum is referring to the overwhelming evidence linking several life-threatening diseases to poor dental health. Ms. Grant-Davis concurs. “Studies have shown an association between periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes,” noted Ms. Grant Davis. “The state’s commitment to access to primary, quality health care for underserved populations is gravely compromised with the omission of dental care for all adults.”

Ms. Grant-Davis will also present a petition with more than 3,000 signatures imploring the committee to restore dental benefits to adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These petitions are in addition to more than 9,000 signatures delivered to the governor and committee chairs last month.

“The legislature has the power to save thousands of lives, and we are sure they will make the right decision,” said Dr. Nussbaum. “Our job, today, is to help them realize how important it is to restore this incredibly vital lifeline to the state’s most needy.” The New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA) is the premiere membership organization for dentists in New Jersey. Founded in 1870, the NJDA is headquartered in North Brunswick and serves and supports its nearly 5,000 members and fosters the advancement of quality, ethical oral healthcare for the public. NJDA’s web address is www.njda.org.

SOURCE: New Jersey Dental Association
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