title: The Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Exchanges: Advocacy Efforts for Children's Oral Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate legislative differences in defining the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) pediatric dental benefit and the role of pediatric advocates across states with different health insurance Exchanges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through public record investigation and confidential health policy expert interviews conducted at the state and federal level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral health policy change by the pediatric dental profession requires advocating for the mandatory purchase of coverage through the Exchange, tax subsidy contribution toward pediatric dental benefits, and consistent regulatory insurance standards for financial solvency, network adequacy and provider reimbursement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pediatric dental profession is uniquely positioned to lead change in oral health policy amidst health care reform through strengthening state-level formalized networks with organized dentistry and commercial insurance carriers.
authors: Private practice, Tulsa, Okla, USA. ashleyorynich@gmail.com.
authors: C Ashley
authors: CA
authors: Orynich
authors: Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors: Paul S
authors: PS
authors: Casamassimo
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors: N Sue
authors: NS
authors: Seale
authors: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Chicago, Ill, USA.
authors: C Scott
authors: CS
authors: Litch
authors: Private practice, Huntington Beach, Calif., USA.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Reggiardo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D000067576:Child Health; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D062265:Health Insurance Exchanges / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D009909:Oral Health; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States