A bill to establish a multi-faceted approach to improve access and eliminate disparities in oral health care.

Summary: Oral Health Initiative Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Oral Health Working Group to: (1) review the effectiveness of, and recommend improvements to, existing federal oral health programs; and (2) develop programs to improve the oral health of, and prevent dental disease in, children, Medicaid-eligible adults, medically-compromised adults, and other vulnerable populations at the highest risk of dental disease.

Sets forth duties for the Group, including to: (1) review existing oral health programs and policies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); (2) identify opportunities for new programs; and (3) make recommendations for improvements to the financing of oral health care.

Requires the Secretary to establish an advisory panel to provide advise and recommendations to the Group.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Oral Health Initiative Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The first-ever Surgeon General's report on oral health, 
        released in May 2000, identified a ``silent epidemic'' of 
        dental and oral diseases that burdens some population groups, 
        and calls for a national partnership to provide opportunities 
        for individuals, communities, and the health professions to 
        work together to maintain and improve the nation's oral health.
            (2) The Government Accountability Office has determined 
        that dental disease is a chronic problem among many low-income 
        and other vulnerable populations.
            (3) The National Institutes of Health 2001 Consensus 
        Development Conference on Diagnosis and Management of Dental 
        Caries Throughout Life found that dental decay is the most 
        common chronic childhood disease among children in the United 
        States.
            (4) Research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine 
        determined that dental disease affects 1 in 5 children aged 2 
        to 4, half of those aged 6 to 8, and nearly three-fifths of 15 
        year olds.
            (5) ``Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon 
        General'' published in April 2002 found that tooth decay is 5 
        times more common than asthma among school age children.
            (6) In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
        estimated that 43 percent of black children have untreated 
        tooth decay in permanent teeth, and that children living in 
        poverty suffer twice as much tooth decay as middle and upper 
        income children.
            (7) The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has 
        reported that 80 percent of all dental problems are found in 25 
        percent of children, primarily those from lower-income 
        families.
            (8) Researchers have determined that preventive dental 
        interventions, including early and routine preventive care, 
        fluoridation, and sealants are cost effective in reducing 
        disease and associated expenditures.
            (9) A broad array of programs exists, totaling more than 
        $45,000,000 annually, excluding National Institutes of Health 
        research of $300,000,000 a year and Medicaid and SCHIP funding 
        of $4,700,000,000 a year, within several agencies of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services to address oral health 
        needs, yet serious access problems remain for underserved 
        populations.
            (10) The 110th Congress has recognized the importance of 
        dental care by adding a guaranteed dental benefit to the 
        Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 
        2007.
            (11) The Senate Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2009 
        supports funding for improved access to oral health care in the 
        United States.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to establish a multi-faceted approach 
to improve access and eliminate disparities in oral health care.

SEC. 4. ORAL HEALTH WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the effective date 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in 
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall establish within the Office of the 
Secretary an Oral Health Working Group (referred to in this Act as the 
``Group'') to review the effectiveness of, and recommend improvements 
to, existing Federal oral health programs, and develop programs to 
improve the oral health of, and prevent dental disease in, children, 
Medicaid-eligible adults, medically-compromised adults, and other 
vulnerable populations who are among those Americans at highest risk of 
dental disease.
    (b) Composition.--The Group shall be composed of a representative 
from each of the following:
            (1) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
            (2) The Bureau of Primary Health Care.
            (3) The Bureau of Health Professions.
            (4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
            (5) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
            (6) The HIV-AIDS Bureau.
            (7) The Indian Health Service.
            (8) The Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
            (9) The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial 
        Research.
            (10) The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities.
            (11) The Office of Disability.
            (12) The Office of Head Start.
            (13) Any other offices or divisions as determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary.
    (c) Duties.--The group shall--
            (1) review existing oral health programs and policies 
        within the Department of Health and Human Services, including--
                    (A) oral health provider training programs;
                    (B) the availability of access to oral health care 
                under such programs (such as community health center 
                access);
                    (C) oral health disease tracking trends; and
                    (D) oral health research programs;
            (2) identify duplicative or overlapping oral health 
        programs;
            (3) identify opportunities for new oral health programs;
            (4) make recommendations for the improved coordination of 
        oral health programs;
            (5) make recommendations on spending for oral health care 
        programs in each of the agencies of the Department of Health 
        and Human Services;
            (6) evaluate the adequacy of Federal support for State oral 
        health programs;
            (7) make recommendations for improvements to the financing 
        of oral health care;
            (8) make recommendations for monitoring and evaluating the 
        quality of dental care financed with Federal funds;
            (9) identify efforts to cost-effectively prevent and manage 
        dental disease in low-income and high-risk populations; and
            (10) carry out any other activities determined appropriate 
        by the Secretary.
    (d) Advisory Panel.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory panel to provide advice and recommendations to the 
        Group in carrying out subsection (d).
            (2) Composition.--The advisory panel shall be composed of 
        an appropriate number of individuals to be appointed by the 
        Secretary, and shall include--
                    (A) a dentist;
                    (B) a pediatric dentist;
                    (C) a dental educator;
                    (D) a State Medicaid or State Children's Health 
                Insurance Program dental director;
                    (E) a dentist who serves as a State dental 
                director;
                    (F) a dentist who practices in a federally 
                qualified health center;
                    (G) an allied dental practitioner;
                    (H) a dental insurer; and
                    (I) any other entity determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            (3) Requirements.--In making appointments to the advisory 
        panel under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure--
                    (A) a broad geographic representation of members 
                and a balance between urban and rural members;
                    (B) that members are appointed based on their 
                competence, interest, and knowledge of the mission of 
                dentistry; and
                    (C) an adequate representation of minorities.
            (4) Terms.--A member of the advisory panel shall be 
        appointed for a term of 2 years.
            (5) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the advisory panel shall be 
        filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made 
        and shall be subject to any conditions which applied with 
        respect to the original appointment. An individual appointed to 
        fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the 
        member being replaced.
            (6) Meetings.--The advisory panel shall meet not less than 
        2 times each year. Such meetings shall be held jointly with 
        other meetings related to the oral health initiative under this 
        Act when appropriate.
            (7) Compensation.--Each member of the advisory panel shall 
        be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such 
        member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the 
        panel.
            (8) Expenses.--Members of the advisory panel shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the panel.
            (9) PACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall apply 
        to the advisory panel under this subsection only to the extent 
        that the provisions of such Act do not conflict with the 
        requirements of this subsection.
    (e) Reports.--Not later than December 31, 2010, and each December 
31 thereafter, the Group shall submit to the Secretary and the 
appropriate committees of Congress, a report concerning the findings 
and recommendations of the Group under subsection (c).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated, such sums as may be necessary in each fiscal year to 
carry out this Act.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on February 1, 2009.