HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Dental caries, one of the most prevalent diseases 1-2 known, is often irreversible, and has significant medical and 1-3 economic impact on millions of sufferers; and 1-4 WHEREAS, In 1986, dental illnesses accounted for 6.4 million 1-5 days of bed disability, 14.3 million days of restricted activity, 1-6 and 20.9 million lost work days, and, in 1992, expenditures for 1-7 dental care in the United States totaled more than $38 billion; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Fluoride is known to reduce tooth decay and its 1-9 associated pain and suffering by as much as 40 percent, yet despite 1-10 its proven benefits, approximately 4,000,000 Texans are not served 1-11 by fluoridated water supplies, the most cost-effective means of 1-12 providing this trace element to the population; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Preliminary data comparing the Medicaid dental costs 1-14 for the three largest unfluoridated counties in Texas and 1-15 demographically similar fluoridated counties indicate that 1-16 fluoridation could save over $2,400,000 annually by reducing the 1-17 incidence of tooth and bone decay; based on estimates from the 1-18 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the comparative annual 1-19 cost of fluoridating public water supplies in these counties would 1-20 be $504,000; and 1-21 WHEREAS, While the preliminary estimates are encouraging, the 1-22 State of Texas has a compelling need for more current and reliable 1-23 information regarding the potential benefits of fluoridation in 1-24 reducing expenditures incurred by Medicaid and other public health 2-1 programs; now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-3 hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to conduct a study of 2-4 the costs and benefits of dental disease prevention through 2-5 fluoridation of public water supplies; and, be it further 2-6 RESOLVED, That this study include a review of Medicaid and 2-7 other public health costs to the state to determine the extent to 2-8 which differences in these costs in different regions of the state 2-9 are attributable to the presence or absence of fluoridated public 2-10 water supplies; and, be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health submit a full 2-12 report of its findings and recommendations to the 76th Legislature 2-13 when that legislature convenes in January 1999; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-15 copy of this resolution to the commissioner of health of the Texas 2-16 Department of Health. Davila _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 145 was adopted by the House on April 25, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 145 was adopted by the Senate on May 22, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor