Bill 1059

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    1059
Primary Sponsor:                Giese
Type of Legislation:            CR
Subject:                        Oral Health Task Force
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   Mar 26, 1992
Computer Document Number:       BR1/1806.AC
Introduced Date:                Sep 23, 1991
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              Mar 26, 1992
Last History Type:              Received from House
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Giese
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent
                                Resolution

 Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN
 ----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---
 1059  Senate  Mar 26, 1992  Received from House
 1059  House   Mar 25, 1992  Adopted, returned with
                             concurrence
 1059  House   Mar 19, 1992  Committee Report: Favorable     24
 1059  House   Mar 17, 1992  Introduced, referred to         24
                             Committee
 1059  Senate  Mar 11, 1992  Adopted, sent to House
 1059  Senate  Mar 10, 1992  Committee Report: Favorable     13
 1059  Senate  Sep 23, 1991  Introduced, referred to         13
                             Committee

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 19, 1992

S. 1059

S. Printed 3/19/92--H.

Read the first time March 17, 1992.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 1059), to express the support of the General Assembly for the South Carolina Oral Health Task Force, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

SAMUEL R. FOSTER, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA ORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO COMMEND THE TASK FORCE FOR ITS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK IN ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUE.

Whereas, oral health problems are one of the most widespread health problems in this State; and

Whereas, studies show that over ninety-seven percent of South Carolina's children have had tooth decay by age seventeen due to dental caries and approximately sixty-five percent of these dental problems go untreated; and

Whereas, periodontal disease is prevalent among adults and can result in significant tooth loss; approximately thirty percent of adults over age sixty-five have lost all of their teeth; and

Whereas, oral cancer is another serious oral health problem and in 1987 one hundred forty-three South Carolinians died of this disease which was the third highest oral cancer death rate in the country; and

Whereas, poor oral health is the result of many problems including inadequate access to services, financial barriers, poor diet, and lack of knowledge, preventive care, and treatment; and

Whereas, financial barriers that limit access to preventive and clinical services include poverty, lack of insurance, limited coverage for services, and inadequate funding for community services; and

Whereas, access to oral health services also is affected by the lack of providers in rural and low income urban communities, lack of school and community-based programs, and little or no coordination among public and private providers; and

Whereas, through the interest and commitment of the South Carolina Dental Association and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the interests of public health dentistry and private dentists were merged to form the South Carolina Oral Health Task Force for the purpose of documenting South Carolinians' oral health status and developing recommendations for improving the state's oral health status; and

Whereas, the members of the task force devoted many hours to obtaining information about South Carolina's oral health status, the public health oral health program, the eligibility and coverage for dental services by the State Medicaid program, and the role of other public and private organizations in the provision of oral health services; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Oral Health Task Force examined the basic oral health service needs of South Carolinians based on the presence and incidence of oral health problems; and

Whereas, the task force identified the Basic Oral Health Needs for the State and developed recommendations to meet these needs and to improve the state's oral health status; and

Whereas, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of good oral hygiene and good oral health as part of the basic health needs of the citizens of this State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina supports the South Carolina Oral Health Task Force and its recommendations and commends the task force for its dedication and hard work in addressing this important health issue.