Posted on 08/24/2010 1:26:50 PM PDT by Graybeard58
CHICAGO--(ENEWSPF)--July 23, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that makes it easier for licensed dentists who live out-of state to provide voluntary care to low-income Illinois families. He also signed legislation to create a shared database to help Illinoisâ schools to improve their nutritional and physical activity policies and programs.
âKeeping Illinoisâ children and families healthy is one of my most important duties,â said Governor Quinn. âThis important legislation will help more families see a dentist and help our school districts develop better healthy practices for our children.â
House Bill 3061 allows the state to issue temporary permits to dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in other states and will provide free care in Illinois. To qualify for a permit, the dentist or dental hygienist must meet Illinoisâ dental standards and intend to provide voluntary care. The temporary permit may not exceed 10 days.
The law will help encourage more dentists to treat low-income families at free clinics throughout Illinois. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously. It takes effect immediately.
Governor Quinn also signed a new law that requires the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutritional and physical activity best practices database for use in schools and school districts. The database will contain the results of any wellness-related fitness testing done by local school districts, as well as information on successful nutrition and physical activity programs and policies implemented by school districts.
The database will be accessible to all local school districts and will serve as an important tool for developing policies and programs to improve the health of Illinoisâ children. Senate Bill 3706 was sponsored by Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) and Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) and takes effect immediately.
Governor Quinn also signed Senate Bill 3025, which amends the Dental Practice Act. The legislation takes effect immediately and was sponsored by Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) and Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago).
This especially rubs me the wrong way since I just paid the full cost for my legal ward's orthodontia and it does not come cheap. Now I get to pay for others too.
Selfish bastards.
Does this free dental care apply to illegals too?
If not, why not?
I’m confused.... does this mean out-of-state dentists have to drive in to supply this service, or that the poor families can travel outside Illinois for treatment and still be covered?
“I’m confused.... does this mean out-of-state dentists have to drive in to supply this service”
...it means that Quinn is a redistributive idiot.
I’m confused too, unless it means that children in East St. Louis can cross the river to see a Missouri dentist and it will be covered. Or any border area for that matter.
The article does make it sound as if dentists from other states will be flocking here so as to get paid by Illinois gov for services. That’s a huge joke because I know a dentist that will not accept Illinois gov provided patients because it can take up to two years to receive payment.
He does do some pro bono work for such patients, with emergency or urgent care.
btt
It appears that the bill will allow dentists not licensed in Illinois to be able to provide apparently free dental work to poor kids/folk in the state. Kinda like some dentists do now in 3rd world countries on mission trips. I guess that with the signing of this bill Illinois is now considered a 3rd world country in terms of pediatric dental care, needing all the help it can obtain. Kinda like Haiti........
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