Today, Rep. Cummings, along with Subcommittee Chairman Kucinich, introduced “Deamonte’s Law,” a bill to increase children’s access to necessary dental services. The bill is named after 12-year-old Deamonte Driver, who died when an untreated tooth infection spread to his brain. It would ensure access to dental services by establishing two five-year, $5 million pilot programs: one to provide funds for dentists, equipment, and construction for dental services at community health centers, and another to address dentist shortages by enhancing training and recruitment programs for pediatric dentistry.

In addition, Reps. Cummings and Kucinich write to CMS and HHS today asking for documents related to children’s dental care in Medicaid.