S. 5088

119 S5088 IS: Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-07-22
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5088  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 22, 2026   Ms. Alsobrooks  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Finance    A BILL
To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to prohibit lifetime or annual limits on dental coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and to require wraparound coverage of dental services for certain children under such program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act  .
2.
Prohibition of lifetime or annual limits on dental benefits under the Children's Health Insurance Program
(a)
In general
Section 2103(c)(6) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397cc(c)(6) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  , subject to subparagraph (D),  after  shall include ;
(2)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  A State  and inserting  Subject to subparagraph (D), a State ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(D)
No lifetime or annual limits on dental benefits
A State shall not establish lifetime or annual limits on the dollar value of benefits for dental services provided under the State child health plan to a targeted low-income child, and, in the case that the State elects to provide pregnancy-related assistance pursuant to section 2112, to a targeted low-income pregnant woman (as defined in section 2112(d)), including benefits for such services that are provided through dental coverage that is otherwise equivalent to a benchmark dental package described in subparagraph (C).
 .
(b)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
3.
Requiring wraparound coverage of dental services for certain children under CHIP
(a)
In general
Section 2110(b)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397jj(b)(5) ) is amended—
(1)
in the paragraph header, by striking
Option   and inserting
Requirement  ;
(2)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  may waive  and inserting  shall waive ; and
(3)
by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
(C)
Requirement for no more favorable treatment
A State that provides dental-only supplemental coverage under this paragraph may not provide more favorable dental coverage or cost-sharing protection for dental coverage to children provided dental-only supplemental coverage under this paragraph than the dental coverage and cost-sharing protection for dental coverage provided to targeted low-income children who are eligible for the full range of child health assistance provided under the State child health plan.
 .
(b)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.