CalCPA ProtectPlus

Fluoride in drinking water has been one of the most successful ways to help prevent tooth decay in children during the 20^th century…so we thought. On January 7^th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in nearly 50 years. These recommended levels have been reviewed by federal health officials and they say that many Americans are getting too much fluoride which is causing white marks on children’s teeth – a condition called fluorosis.

Not only are most children getting fluoride in their drinking water, but they are also getting it from toothpaste, mouthwash and some kids are even getting regular fluoride treatments when they have their teeth cleaned by their dentist.

In the report released last Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services, it was recommended to change the level of fluoride per liter of water to 0.7 milligrams which would replace the standard range since 1962 of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter.

Many parents may become concerned by this report, since we have all been told over the past years to let our children drink our tap water because of the health benefits of the fluoride. Now we will need to wait and see what further information the HHS comes back to us with by spring 2011 when they are expected to publish their final community water fluoridation report.

To read the full report from the HHS, click here. Also, for more information about fluorosis and young children’s intake of fluoride, check out this link from Delta Dental.

[Information Source]

(This News Article via California Healthline June 26th, 2009)

California clinics this week lost their court battle against the state’s plan to eliminate funding for adult dental care and several other services.

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge ruled that the state Legislature had the right to cut adult Denti-Cal and other benefits when it voted in February on various measures to reduce state spending. A lawsuit filed in April by the California Primary Care Association and two clinic groups argued that eliminating some Medi-Cal benefits, including adult Denti-Cal, violates federal law.

Denti-Cal is the dental benefit provided through Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.

The suit, aimed at preventing the state from ending Medi-Cal payments for services at federally qualified health centers and rural health centers, claimed that state and federal law requires such centers to provide dental care and other services to all residents, regardless of income.

Reimbursements for dentistry, optometry, podiatry and chiropractic programs is scheduled to stop July 1, as is funding for other optional Medi-Cal benefits, including speech therapy and some mental health services.

Clinicas del Camino Real, a group of 10 clinics for low-income people in Ventura County, filed the lawsuit along with Southern Trinity Health Services in Northern California and the statewide California Primary Care Association, which represents hundreds of clinics throughout the state.

Officials for Clinicas del Camino Real said the loss of Medi-Cal reimbursements could result in layoffs of as many as 150 people and the closure of two of its clinics.

California lawmakers are taking a closer look at Medi-Cal spending as they work to address the state budget deficit. Here’s a look at other legislation under consideration in Sacramento.  Continue to original source.

The CalCPA Society-sponsored dental plan offers quality dental care at affordable rates. More than 92% of the dentists in California participate in this program underwritten by Delta Dental. These 16,000 Delta participating dentists will handle all your Delta paperwork for you at no cost, so you don’t need to worry about sending in claim forms or waiting for reimbursement. And you receive an even higher level of benefits when you select a DELTA Preferred Option dentist. There are more than 1,800 DELTA Preferred Option dentists in the state.

If you prefer to go to a dentist who does not participate in the Delta program, you may have to submit your own claims, and your benefits will be paid directly to you.

See details on the plan.