BILL NUMBER: AJR 30	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  138
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 18, 2012
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 18, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 29, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Pan
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall,
Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler,
Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes,
Furutani, Gatto, Gordon, Hall, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill,
Huber, Hueso, Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mitchell, Monning, Perea,
John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Solorio, Swanson, Torres,
Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)

                        MARCH 7, 2012

   Relative to Medicare.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 30, Pan. Medicare: dental care.
   This measure would memorialize the President and Congress of the
United States to enact legislation that would add comprehensive,
preventative dental care coverage to Medicare benefits.



   WHEREAS, National Health Interview surveys from 1997 to 2009 found
24 to 30 percent of persons 65 years of age and older were
edentulous; and
   WHEREAS, The surveys also found that during that period only 17 to
24 percent of older edentate persons, compared to 69 to 73 percent
of older dentate persons, had a dental visit in the past year; and
   WHEREAS, Medicare does not currently provide for most dental care;
and
   WHEREAS, Senior citizens, many living on a fixed income, often
cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs of dental care; and
   WHEREAS, A study done in March 2005 by the State University of New
York, University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine found that
cost was a major factor in senior citizens not obtaining dental care;
and
   WHEREAS, Covering medical illnesses that are directly correlated
with poor dental health can be a significant expense for Medicare;
and
   WHEREAS, Many of the diseases correlated with dental health are
preventable and could be avoided or mitigated through better dental
care; and
   WHEREAS, Including dental coverage in Medicare benefits will lower
the program's medical expenses as well as improve the quality of
life for senior citizen; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes
the President and Congress of the United States to enact appropriate
legislation that would add comprehensive, preventative dental care
coverage to Medicare benefits; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this measure to the President and Vice-President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, to the Chair of the Senate Special
Committee on Aging, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.