Cummings Holds Press Conference To Discuss Healthcare Benefits

Contact: March 30, 2010

Paul Kincaid, 202-225-4289

Cummings Holds Press Conference To Discuss Healthcare Benefits

Congressman will focus on help for children in recently passed reforms.

(Baltimore, MD) - Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, (MD-07) will hold a press conference Thursday; to discuss the effects of recently passed healthcare reform on the children of Maryland families.

One issue that has touched Rep. Cummings most directly is the critical need for pediatric dentistry. This focus was reinforced by the death, in 2007, of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver. Deamonte died when a tooth infection spread to his brain. Deamonte's mother was unable to find a dentist to extract the infected tooth, due to a shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid.

In 2009, Cummings introduced H.R. 462, the Medicaid-SCHIP Dental Benefits Improvement Act of 2009, which would guarantee dental benefits in the SCHIP program, as well as making other pediatric dental improvements. Because of the work done by Rep. Cummings and others, many of the improvements in H.R. 462 were also included in the healthcare reform bill recently signed by President Obama. Among these improvements, all health insurance plans, including Medicaid, which count as "qualified healthcare plans", will include full coverage for pediatric dentistry. There is also special emphasis in the bill for training dentists who will work in rural and underserved areas.

Cummings, Dr. Norman Tinanoff, Chairman, Department of Health, Promotion and Policy, University of Maryland Dental School and Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers will discuss these improvements, and others that will help American children, at the press conference. It will be held Thursday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. in the 8th floor conference room at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, MD.

WHAT: Healthcare Reform Benefits Press Conference

WHO: Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

Secretary John Colmers, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Dr. Norman Tinanoff, University of Maryland Dental School

WHERE: 8th floor Conference room, University of Maryland Dental School, 650 West Baltimore Steet, Baltimore, Maryland