SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 12

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LUCERO

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 12: MEDICARE DENTAL SERVICES.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES MEDICAL SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS AND THE DISABLED THROUGH THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCLUDE ROUTINE AND OTHER DENTAL CARE IN MEDICARE COVERAGE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 12: RELATING TO MEDICARE

WHEREAS, MEDICARE DOES NOT CURRENTLY PROVIDE FOR MOST DENTAL CARE; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS, MANY OF WHOM LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME, OFTEN CANNOT AFFORD DENTAL CARE ON THEIR OWN. A STUDY, DONE IN MARCH OF 2005 BY THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO’S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FOUND THAT A MAJOR FACTOR IN SENIOR CITIZEN’S NOT OBTAINING DENTAL CARE WAS FINANCIAL, FOLLOWED BY OTHER CONCERNS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION; AND

WHEREAS, MEDICARE SPENDS A GREAT DEAL OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS COVERING ILLNESSES THAT ARE DIRECTLY CORRELATED WITH DENTAL HEALTH; AND

WHEREAS, MANY OF THE DISEASES CORRELATED WITH DENTAL HEALTH ARE PREVENTABLE AND COULD BE AVOIDED OR MITIGATED THROUGH BETTER DENTAL CARE; AND

WHEREAS, IT WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT TO INCLUDE DENTAL CARE IN MEDICARE COVERAGE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE COST OF MEDICAL TREATMENT PROVIDED THROUGH MEDICARE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUEST THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDE ROUTINE AND OTHER DENTAL CARE IN MEDICARE COVERAGE; 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 OF 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.

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RN 11 17661