Running head: ADVOCADY METHODS

Advocacy Methods
Vera Nixon
Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing
Business of Healthcare in Complex Systems
NUR 4240
Ms. Mazzoccoli & Ms. Mikelaites
July 10, 2016
Honor Code, I pledge
To: H. Morgan Griffith
From: Vera Nixon
Date: July 10, 2016
Subject: H.R.3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act
For the patients, and their families, the inclusion of pediatric dental coverage is a big step, as
many insurance options are still lagging in relation to adult dental coverage. Almost half of
children from 2 years to 11 years of age have had a history of tooth decay, with cavities up to
seven times more common than hay fever (Blevins, 2011). Furthermore, almost a quarter of the
children with cavities, remain untreated, without access to dental care (Blevins, 2011). As a
result, I am supporting your bill.
The reduction of limitations on health insurance plans that do not offer pediatric dental benefits,
in order to allow for pediatric dental insurance (H.R. 3463, 2015) is important to the children of
this country. Dental health not only impacts direct personal health, but education as well as
financial implications.
Currently, children miss at least 5o million hours of school in relation to dental pain and
the treatment for poor dental health (Blevins, 2011).

Dental caries have increased to 28% from 24% in the past ten years, increasing the
number of hours children miss school (Blevins, 2011).

Healthcare is costly, and an overall shift to preventative care would lessen the financial burden of
not only the patient and family, but the nation as a whole. While initially the businesses
providing health insurance will be burdened financially, in order to provide pediatric dental
coverage (Essling & Litch, 2013), preventative care reduces monetary dependency if thoroughly
maintained.
Recommendations: Vote to pass bill H.R. 3463 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act. As
stated above, preventative care is an important part of transitioning healthcare in general, but
beginning early, with preventative oral care, can set the future for a healthy lifestyle, as habits
that begin in childhood influence health in adolescence and adult health (Blevins, 2011).
Improving the healthcare of children will improve the healthcare of the future. In order to do so,
my continued support of H.R. 3464 Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act will continue.

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References

Aligning Childrens Dental Coverage Act, H.R. 3463, 114th Cong. (2015).
Blevins, J. Y. (2011). Oral health care for hospitalized children. Pediatric Nursing, 37(5), 229235. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752508_9
Essling, M., & Litch, C. S. (2013). Behind the code: How will the affordable care act affect
pediatric dental practices? Pediatric Dentistry Today, 26-28. Retrieved from
http://www.aapd.org/assets/1/7/How_Will_the_ACA_Affect_Pediatric_Dental_Practices
_PDT_NOV_2013.pdf