Dentistry in the Era of Universal Healthcare
Dentistry in the Era of Universal Healthcare
by Dr. Bruce S. Weisbrot, Premier Dental Associates, Inc.
The American Dental Association and all of its affiliates along with Vision Care Groups, Union groups, and Insurance companies sent recently a letter to the leaders of the House and the Senate. They are asking them to eliminate or modify the excise tax on health benefits to ensure that this new healthcare reform legislation doesn’t impact primary and prevention-oriented care.
The provision, as written, would compel many employers to drop dental and vision, and other secondary coverage to avoid paying an excise tax. It will effectively eliminate the preventive, primary care that everyone agrees we need more of. This may also cause emmployers to drop older employees that cost more to insure. Cuts in these benefits will lead to a decline in access to necessary care which will cause an increase in preventable disease and infections. If left unchecked, dental infections can occasionally become fatal.
The Healthcare Reform debate has never centered on dental, vision, and other supplemental benefits. These benefits have only been included in the calculation of the excise tax to raise revenue. For millions of patients and consumers, mostly middle and lowwincome working Americans, the excise tax is unfair and punitive, leading to reduced healthcare services. Many people rely on the preventive services to at least treat infections, slow the progression of chronic disease, and facilitate early treatment of preventable conditions. Please check with your employer to see how this legislation will affect you.
At Premier Dental Associates, Inc. we are a full-service dental office, with specialists in oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and three general dentists. In addition, we offer lnvisalign, Botox and facial fillers, sedation, Implants, cosmetic dentistry, and more. We have recently installed free Wi-Fi throughout the office for our patients.
Please call my office at 954/392-1635 for any and all of your dental needs.
We now have Saturday hours available, and are conveniently located next to Pembroke Lakes Mall on the lake.
Be sure to check out our website at www.pinesdentist.com
Posted by Ovi
on March 20, 2010 - 1:13 am . Filed under Falls Nation, Health Care & Medical, Pharma & Health.
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That’s an interesting take on it – I’ve been concerned about what I’m going to do with my dental care with all of the future healthcare changes.
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