{"content":[{"text":"developmentally disabled, and those who have special medical conditions that require","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.17998,"width":0.673274,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"hospitalization for dental procedures. While MassHealth currently covers these same costs, many","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.214828,"width":0.762847,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"children in the Commonwealth are ineligible. This initiative ensures that these patients receive","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.249677,"width":0.740729,"height":0.02021199999999998}},{"text":"necessary care with costs covered for general anesthesia administered in a hospital.","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.284525,"width":0.6520980000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"As of 2010, 32 states have enacted legislation relative to anesthesia coverage for children","bbox":{"left":0.176503,"top":0.319412,"width":0.699854,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"hospitalized for dental treatment. A study conducted after this legislation was passed in North","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.35426,"width":0.734749,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"Carolina in 2000 revealed a 60% increase in non-Medicaid visits and 33% increase in Medicaid","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.389109,"width":0.7501220000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"visits, with 43% more children overall seeking dental care post-legislation. When Louisiana also","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.423957,"width":0.7568010000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"passed comparable legislation in 1997, the Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) estimated that","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.458806,"width":0.74251,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"the bill would increase costs for medical insurance companies by approximately $2.62 per","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.493654,"width":0.707546,"height":0.020211999999999952}},{"text":"policyholder. A leading national medical insurance company, in a letter addressed to the","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.528528,"width":0.6923670000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"executive director of the LDA, indicated that the new law increased the cost of plans by less than","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.563376,"width":0.7609220000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"0.2%. The Alabama Society of Pediatric Dentistry has calculated that a similar mandate in their","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.598225,"width":0.749043,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"state would add about $0.97 annually to each policy holder. It is important to note that dentists","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.633073,"width":0.7416470000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"do not benefit financially from this legislation since the reimbursement would be paid to the","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.667922,"width":0.7219610000000001,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"hospital and anesthesiologist. Requiring coverage for anesthesia and hospital costs associated","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.70277,"width":0.731797,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"with dental treatment may add a small annual cost to a policy, while allowing an enormous","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.737657,"width":0.713193,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"increase in access-to-care for children in the Commonwealth, inarguably a vital group needing","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.772505,"width":0.741262,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"better access to quality dental care.","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.807354,"width":0.274356,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"The Massachusetts Dental Society urges the Joint Committee on Financial Services to","bbox":{"left":0.176503,"top":0.842202,"width":0.674373,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"take favorable action on this item and require all third-party payers to administer hospitalization","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.877045,"width":0.753291,"height":0.020212000000000008}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}