Bill Could Bolster Dental Care In Underserved Areas

February 9, 2015

A Senate Republican has filed a proposal that would create a program to provide financial help to dentists who work in areas of Florida that lack adequate dental care. The proposal filed by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, would provide money that could be used for such things as repaying dental-school loans and investing in property and facilities.

“The Legislature recognizes that maintaining good oral health is integral to overall health status and that the good health of residents of this state is an important contributing factor in economic development,” the bill says. “Better health, including better oral health, enables workers to be more productive, reduces the burden of health care costs, and enables children to improve in cognitive development.”

The bill would focus on dentists who work in “dental health professional shortage areas” or “medically underserved areas,” both of which are federal designations. For example, dentists could qualify if they work at public-health programs in those areas. Lawmakers will consider the proposal during the legislative session that starts March 3.

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

3 Responses to “Bill Could Bolster Dental Care In Underserved Areas”

  1. chillywilly on February 10th, 2015 9:16 pm

    Please, If Gov. Rick Scott would expand medicaid and accept the money
    from the federal government there would be no need to pass a bill to address
    this problem. This is money we have already sent to Washington . 80 % of all children on medicaid in the state of Florida
    receive 0 no dental care at all. Gov Scott has gutted the budget
    of the Department of Health, the health dept. Remember when all the
    school nurses in Escambia county were laid off and then the school nurse
    program was privatized and contracted out. Probably to a company that
    Rick Scott owns that is in a private trust in his wife’s name that he refuses
    to disclose. Scott wants to drug test everybody because he owns the clinics and labs that process them. He funnels the money to his pockets.
    Florida deserves the government it elected, Enjoy.

  2. Jennifer on February 9th, 2015 12:12 pm

    I agree!! Who can afford their prices to start with?? Help individuals be able to afford to get their teeth fixed. I doubt if dentists get more money that it will benefit ordinary people.

  3. Jane on February 9th, 2015 5:29 am

    Most dentists charge so much no one can afford to go to them….they don’t need subsidies…the people who need their teeth fixed do!