We are now in the third Special Session of the State Legislature. Both the Senate and House budgets include funding for the Oral Health Connections pilot, which would provide an enhanced Medicaid dental benefit for expectant mothers and people with diabetes.
There’s bipartisan support for the pilot because lawmakers from all corners of the state recognize that smart, targeted investments can lead to better health, fewer ER visits and a decrease in severe complications.
As lawmakers make their final push toward approving a budget, we urge you remind them that expanding dental care access can make a real difference, especially for at-risk and vulnerable populations. Please reach out to your representatives now and throughout the remainder of the Special Session, and urge them to support the Oral Health Connections pilot.
Here’s how you can help:
- Call your lawmakers directly. OralHealthWatch.org has made it easy for constituents to contact legislators. The Oral Health Watch legislative outreach page helps you locate your representatives, and includes a phone number and a script.
- Email your representatives. The Oral Health Watch website includes a legislator locator tool, email addresses, and a draft email to get you started.
- Reach out to your lawmakers on social media. Below are some sample tweets to send to your representatives.
- @[insert lawmaker Twitter handle]: Dental access, better health, fewer hospital stays & #teethmatter. Please support the Oral Health Connections pilot.
- @waleg: Please support Oral Health Connections pilot to improve dental access for expectant moms and diabetes patients because #teethmatter
- @ [insert lawmaker Twitter handle]: Please support the Oral Health Connections pilot and smart policies that expand dental care access b/c #teethmatter
Finally, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news. Thank you for your support!
Oral Health Watch
14 hours ago
Tooth loss, visible decay, and bad breath can negatively impact productivity and employment opportunities - especially for customer-facing jobs. Supporting programs that expand access to preventive and restorative oral health care is a wise investment that benefits individuals, households, ...community health, and our economy. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
18 hours ago
Tooth loss, visible decay, and bad breath can negatively impact productivity and employment opportunities - especially for customer-facing jobs. Supporting programs that expand access to preventive and restorative oral health care is a wise investment that benefits individuals, households, ...community health, and our economy. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 days ago
Oral health IS health. Dental coverage IS health coverage. It's time to return the mouth back to the body. Untreated cavities, gum infections, and oral disease can negatively affect overall health and well-being, leading to chronic disease complications, higher health care costs, and needless ...suffering. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 days ago
Oral health IS health. Dental coverage IS health coverage. It's time to return the mouth back to the body. Untreated cavities, gum infections, and oral disease can negatively affect overall health and well-being, leading to chronic disease complications, higher health care costs, and needless ...suffering. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
3 days ago
Medicaid provides crucial health coverage and essential services to more than 72 million - including nearly 2 million in Washington state - lower-income individuals, families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Please urge your congressional representative to protect Medicaid ...coverage. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
3 days ago
Medicaid provides crucial health coverage and essential services to more than 72 million - including nearly 2 million in Washington state - lower-income individuals, families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Please urge your congressional representative to protect Medicaid ...coverage. #teethmatter