Frank Pallone: “I thank Chairwoman Eshoo for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1916, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles…”

“I thank Chairwoman Eshoo for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1916, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, a bipartisan bill that will help patients with congenital anomalies and birth defects get the necessary treatment that they deserve. Three percent of American children are born with congenital anomalies or birth defects that affect the way they look, develop, or function, often for the rest of their lives. These children require serious medical treatment. But for far too long, insurance companies have been unfairly denying treatment, despite an official medical diagnosis, by deeming it cosmetic or because the treatment involves dental services. This is unacceptable. This treatment is critically important and medically necessary, particularly for children with serious dental anomalies. During our legislative hearing on this bill in committee, we heard from Kevin Koser about his family's longstanding struggles to get his son Kannon's medical treatment covered. Kannon was diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia when he was 1 year old, and this had a drastic impact on his health and quality of life. Ectodermal dysplasia is a congenital anomaly that affects the development of the hair, skin, teeth, and other body parts. Kannon sprouted his first tooth at the age of 4, and this has severely restricted his diet and impacted his ability to speak.…”