AGD questions U.S. dental commissioner law

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), commenting on healthcare reform legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, is arguing that a dentist -- not just any oral health care expert -- should be included in a commission to decide what benefits health insurance plans must offer.

The original text of a bill that passed in three committees of the House requires all U.S. citizens to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. It included no mention of oral health in a list of experts who would help define the criteria for the coverage that insurers must offer.

But on Sept. 22, the Energy & Commerce Committee passed an amendment to its version of the bill authored by Reps. Dianne DeGette, D-CO, and John Sarbanes, D-MD, inserting the phrase "experts in oral health."

The AGD has responded by posting on its Web site a comment that "the AGD supports the concept of the DeGette/Sarbanes amendment, but has concerns that it does not specify that a dentist must be a member of the Advisory Committee."

The organization also announced that it supports a separate amendment to a companion bill in the Senate Finance committee allowing stand-alone dental plans to fulfill a requirement that dental insurance be offered to children.