Report Title: Children's Oral Dental Health (SCR7 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

7

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH FOR CHILDREN, LOW-INCOME ADULTS, AND THE DISABLED IN THE STATE.

 

WHEREAS, oral health is integral to general health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, the genetic patterning of development in utero reveals the intimate relationship of oral tissues to the developing brain and to tissues of the face and head that surround the mouth; and

WHEREAS, in fact, the interdependence between oral health and general health is well-established: new research points to associations between chronic oral infections and heart and lung diseases, stroke, and low-birth weight, and premature births, and diabetes; and

WHEREAS, oral health is such a critical component of health that it must be included in the provision of comprehensive health care and the design of community programs for children, low-income adults, and the disabled; and

WHEREAS, despite the excellent ratio of dentists to people in the State, there are populations of children, low-income adults, and the disabled who are underserved in areas in the State, most notably on the neighbor islands, who are underserved because of the lack or providers who are willing to serve these populations; and

WHEREAS, community health centers and dental hygienists are key providers in the community that can help to meet the oral health needs of underserved populations and underserved areas; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature requests the Department of Health (DOH), in cooperation with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Education (DOE), to develop a plan to improve oral health care for children, low-income adults, and the disabled in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan include:

(1) Improving access to oral health, including the factors that impede access to oral health care, such as lack of providers, monetary hardship, lack of insurance, lack of transportation and other logistical difficulties in obtaining oral health care;

(2) Enhancing public awareness and health literacy regarding the importance of oral health and dental hygiene for children; and

(3) Providing increased opportunities to educate students, parents, and communities about the importance of oral health, good nutrition, and effective dental hygiene and other prevention measures such as fluoridation;

(4) Examining temporary licensure and reciprocity for licensing dentists to serve underserved populations and areas; and

(5) Providing incentives for dentists to volunteer their services in underserved populations and communities;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that dental hygienists, community health centers, and dental clinics in the State of Hawaii be allowed to be a part of the comprehensive oral health care plan to meet the needs of oral health for children, low-income adults, and the disabled; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOH, in cooperation with DHS and DOE, submit the plan with their findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Directors of Health, Human Services, Superintendent of Education, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Dental Hygienists Association, and Board of Dental Examiners.