(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (a) As resolved in the 2000 legislative session, children's oral health remains a priority for health equity in Colorado; (b) Oral health equity for children can be advanced by improved access to care, but also through evidenced-based prevention activities; (c) Dentists and dental hygienists are critical partners in addressing the oral health-care needs of children and underserved Coloradans in rural and low-income communities; (d) However, Colorado communities often encounter difficulty recruiting and retaining dental professionals to serve these communities; (e) Many dental health professionals, particularly dentists, graduate with large education loans needed to finance their professional education; (f) Further, dental care is provided predominantly through individual and small group practices, which can limit the opportunity for dental health professionals to provide a substantial volume of oral heath services at reduced cost while still maintaining revenues necessary to support the fixed costs of operating a dental practice; and (g) When partnered with the state, dental health professionals provide access to oral health care for people in need of services, and reducing the education loan debt of these professionals ensures they have more resources to care for underserved children and communities. (2) The general assembly further finds and declares that Colorado will continue its commitment to provide support to dental health professionals who request education loan repayment and to also use funds to support children's oral health through community public health interventions.
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