WHEREAS, Auburn dentist Amy Cook has succeeded in creating a thriving dental practice, and has kept an open door to local Medicaid patients despite the low reimbursement rates for her professional dental services; and

WHEREAS, Nearly two hundred Washington dentists provided care at no cost to almost two thousand five hundred patients during the 2016 four-day, free, volunteer-run health care clinic in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, Dependable access to good dental care is an important part of maintaining good overall health status, and prevention of dental disease is also a way to prevent complications for pregnant women and diabetic patients; and

WHEREAS, The Washington State Dental Association has adopted a proposal offered by dentist Amy Cook called the "Take 5 Program" to encourage all Washington dentists to accept at least five patients with Medicaid Apple Health dental coverage; and

WHEREAS, Washington dentists participating in the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, established in 1999, have more than doubled the percentage of Medicaid Apple Health eligible babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who receive preventive dental care; and

WHEREAS, The Washington State Dental Association has also adopted a resolution supporting continued eligibility in the ABCD program for patients with developmental disabilities who may be unable to cooperate in a traditional, adult dental setting;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize the valuable role played by the hundreds of Washington dentists who promote access to dental care by volunteering their services to the uninsured, and by treating patients with special needs and those with Medicaid dental insurance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities.