MassHealth Dental Expansion for Family Assistance

 

On October 1, 2009 MassHealth dental benefits were extended to cover children under the age of 19 who receive Family Assistance premium assistance, in order to comply with CHIPRA regulations.

Left untreated, dental disease can interfere with a child’s ability to eat, sleep, speak and learn. As we age, the implications of this disease become more severe. Decades of research have confirmed the associations between dental disease and serious lifelong ailments such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Under the newly expanded benefit, MassHealth will pay for dental services that are not already covered by the child’s private dental insurance. This includes essential services, such as comprehensive and periodic screenings and preventive care, as well as emergency care, oral surgery, and more. Access to these benefits will ensure better oral health and overall health for the children of Massachusetts.

-From: “Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce - Imporant Oral Health Updates!” e-mail from Courtney Chelo September 29, 2009 and “ MassHealth Dental Expansion for Family Assistance”by Courtney Chelo, Oral Health Campaign Organizer, Health Care for All, on A Healthy Blog, http://blog.hcfama.org/?p=3597, retrieved 10/2/09.

10/09