A bill in Colorado that would have provided dental benefits for pregnant mothers on Medicaid became a casualty of a political standoff over civil unions, according to an article by Health Policy Solutions.
SB 12-108 had been expected to receive final approval on May 9 until the impasse.
The goal of the bill was to treat the caries of mothers before they could inadvertently pass the bacteria onto their babies.
The Colorado Dental Association and Children's Hospital Colorado have collaborated with advocacy groups and the Joint Budget Committee to address childhood caries, and they are optimistic that the increased profile the issue received in the process will put lawmakers on notice about the urgency of the situation, the article said.
Other backers of the bill included the Colorado Children's Campaign, the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, and the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved.
