CHIP Reauthorization: Renewed Support for Children’s Oral Health

On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed into law the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that for the first time addresses children’s oral health and dental care. When CHIP was created in 1997, Congress defined dental care as an "optional" service and left it to states to determine whether a dental benefit would be included. The new law will seek to improve access to dental care in addition to expanding efforts to prevent dental disease, improve quality of care, and increase accountability through the following provisions