These are the bills MDAC is following so far this session:  

LD 624 Resolve, to Implement Certain ecommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Expanding Access to Oral Health Care for Maine People.  This bill is the primary focus of MDAC's legislative efforts this session. It will update MaineCare rates to accord with the top recommendation of the 2008 Governor's Task Force on Expanding Access to Oral Health. The bill asks for an increase in reimbursement rates to the 75th percentile of the New England dental fees for 17 dental procedures. Public hearing March 16 1:00PM Rm 209 Cross. Work session will be March 24 at 1:00PM in 209 Cross. Sponsor Representative Meredith Strang Burgess

LD 13 An Act To Expand the Diagnostic Functions of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists This bill expands the diagnostic functions of an independent practice dental hygienist by allowing an independent practice dental hygienist to perform x rays and to own x-ray equipment. Committee vote: ought not to pass. March 5 

LD 100 An Act To Improve Oral Health Care for Maine's Children 

This bill expands health screening in schools to include oral health screening. The bill requires oral health screening for students prior to entering kindergarten and for new students to a school district entering grades 1 to 6 and periodically thereafter. The bill coordinates oral health screening done under the new requirement with oral health screening done through a grant program with the Department of Health and Human Services. Next work session Mar 10, 2009, 0900AM, Cross Building Room 202  

LD 233 An Act To Include Independent Practice Dental Hygienists in MaineCare This bill provides for reimbursement under the MaineCare program to directly reimburse dental hygienists practicing independently as authorized under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1094-I for all procedures performed under Title 32, section 1094-Q, subsection 1. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules to implement this provision, and designates the rules as routine technical rules. Ought to Pass Feb 12.

 LD 234 An Act To Expand Access to Oral Health Care

 This bill requires dental insurers and health insurers and health maintenance organizations that include coverage for dental services in their policies and contracts to provide coverage for dental services performed by an independent practice dental hygienist if those services would be covered under the policy or contract and those services are within the lawful scope of practice of the independent practice dental hygienist. Tabled Feb 17.  

Resolve, Directing the Department of Human Services to Extend MaineCare Dental and Oral Health Services.

NO LD # yet. This will amend the rules regarding MaineCare services to allow for a pregnant woman, regardless of age, who is eligible for MaineCare, to receive dental and oral health services during pregnancy and for 60 days following the delivery of the child. 

Parents and Caregivers are Uninformed about Cavity-Causing Bacteria and Teeth-Friendly SnacksAccording to a recent survey by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) many parents and caregivers are unaware that routine practices, such as providing healthy snacks and sharing utensils, may increase children's risk of developing cavities. The national survey, found that 96% of U.S. adults with children under 12 years old in their household thought a cracker was better for children's teeth than a piece of caramel. Read on ...  

The Role of Physicians in Children's Oral Health

This new state health policy monitor highlights two recent surveys which detail the extent and characteristics of twenty-five state Medicaid programs that reimburse physicians for providing basic preventive oral health care to young children during an office visit. The early and frequent contact that most young children typically have with physicians presents a unique opportunity to evaluate their oral condition and perform basic preventive services.  Read on... 

Increase in Caries in Young Children 

  Percentage of Children Aged 2-4 Years Who Ever Had Caries in Primary Teeth, by Race/Ethnicityand Sex-National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2004MMWR Weekly Volume 58 No. 2: The proportion of young children who ever had dental caries in their primary teeth increased from 18% during 1988--1994 to 24% during 1999--2004, moving away from the Healthy People 2010 target of 11% .