As the legislative session continues, the drumbeat of support for adult dental benefits grows. Today the Tacoma News Tribune editorial board came out in support of the Legislature restoring dental coverage for 450,000 low-income adults. According to the TNT, “it’s now time to reverse” the “penny-wise decision” of legislators in 2011 to get rid of the dental coverage. The Affordable Care Act would also allow state lawmakers to leverage federal funds to help pay for dental care, the editorial board said.
“This country has historically maintained an exaggerated distinction between dental and medical care, as if teeth and jaws somehow didn’t connect to the rest of the body. It’s all health care, though, and the Legislature should grab this opportunity to offer dentistry to Washingtonians with little money.”
Read the full editorial here.