SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 4

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER COX

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SFP 4:  MEDICARE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, COMMONLY KNOWN AS MEDICARE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES HEALTH INSURANCE PROTECTION TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING MOST INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65 YEARS.  UNDER EXISTING LAW, MEDICARE DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE DENTAL CARE AND DENTAL PROCEDURES, INCLUDING CLEANINGS, FILLINGS, EXTRACTIONS, AND DENTURES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR THE ORAL HEALTH OF SENIORS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SFP 4: RELATING TO MEDICARE

WHEREAS, DENTAL DISEASES ARE FREQUENTLY UNTREATED AND THIS LACK OF TREATMENT CAN LEAD TO NEEDLESS PAIN AND SUFFERING; AND

WHEREAS, UNTREATED DENTAL DISEASES MAY DEVASTATE AN INDIVIDUAL'S WELL-BEING AND RESULT IN FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL COSTS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISH THE PERSON'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND BURDEN AMERICAN SOCIETY; AND

WHEREAS, ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN NURSING HOMES AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE FREQUENTLY UNADDRESSED; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS HAVE THE POOREST ORAL HEALTH OF ANY AGE GROUP IN THE POPULATION; AND WHEREAS, SENIORS HAVE A 300 PERCENT HIGHER RATE OF CAVITIES THAN CHILDREN; AND

WHEREAS, TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF PEOPLE 65 TO 75 YEARS-OF-AGE HAVE SEVERE GUM DISEASE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT MEDICARE COVERAGE BE AMENDED TO COVER THE COSTS OF ORAL HEALTH; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN0414889

- 0 -