On the recordMarch 22, 2013
It would improve the oral health care for our children who are Medicaid-eligible. We still have major problems. The majority of our children who are Medicaid-eligible have untreated tooth decay, which affects their general health. Let me respond to my good friend from Alabama, Senator Sessions, and tell him why this amendment will not add to the deficit but will save us money. I will give the example of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old who died in my State of Maryland from untreated tooth decay. He needed an $80 tooth extraction. Instead, we spent $\1/4\ million dollars in unnecessary operations and he lost his life. This amendment gives us a chance to find ways to save money in order to expand oral health for our children, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
