New York State may Waste Medicaid Dollars on Fluoridation/Pew Foundation to Force Fluoridation in NYS?
NYSCOF
spend Medicaid funds on fluoridation equipment, supplies and staff (1)
despite clear evidence that fluoridation fails to prevent tooth decay
in NYS and can be health-harming. Many NYS cities and counties have
already rejected fluoridation, reports the NYS Coalition Opposed to
Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF)
NY City spends $25 million on fluoridation annually (2). Yet, tooth
decay is rampant in NYC’s low-income population (3). Further NYS DofH
statistics show that highly-fluoridated NYS counties don’t have less
tooth decay and fluoridation has not leveled out tooth decay between
lower and higher income children (4).
Further, in 1990, the NYS DofH published a study, "Fluoride: Benefits
and Risks of Exposure," alerting officials that fluoride can be
harmful to kidney patients, diabetics and those with fluoride
hypersensitivity even at "optimal" levels.(4a)
NY City Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. co-sponsored legislation to
stop fluoridation in NYC (5). And a NYC resolution is pending “calling
on the NYS Department of Health to remove fluoride from NYS’s water
supply.” (6)
A unique NYS law requires elected officials make fluoridation
decisions to disallow mandates by a single non-elected entity e.g.
Health Commissioner, as almost happened in Suffolk County in the
1990’s until residents fought successfully to reject fluoridation.
However, it appears the multi-billion dollar Pew Charitable Trust
wants to overturn that law so fluoridation can be forced on
municipalities without citizen input, according to a Pew sponsored
website, owned by a Public Relations company. (7)
Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) is the largest non-
fluoridated area in otherwise 73% fluoridated NYS and tops the Pew’s
fluoridation “hit” list (8) even though the Suffolk County Water
Authority “vehemently” opposes water fluoridation (9). And Long island
Water Conference Chairman Karl Schweitzer says, “Studies have shown
that adding fluoride provides limited or no benefit to dental
health.” (10)
Will Pew Bulldoze NY democracy as they have elsewhere?
Pew thwarted Arkansas democracy by paying lobbyists to convince novice
state legislators to quickly pass a statewide fluoridation law, using
incorrect information, without citizen input and over-riding citizen
referenda in several Arkansas cities which rejected fluoridation
repeatedly (11).
Despite government cautions to avoid mixing infant formula with
fluoridated water (12) a Pew representative urged the Austin City
Council to conceal this information (13).
“Pew decided to protect fluoride instead of babies," says attorney
Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President.
Low-income New Yorkers aren’t fluoride deficient but many are dentist
deficient because fewer than 25% of NYS dentists accept Medicaid
patients (14).
Further, in 1990, the NYS DofH published a study, "Fluoride: Benefits
and Risks of Exposure," alerting officials that fluoride can be
harmful to kidney patients, diabetics and those with fluoride
hypersensitivity even at "optimal" levels.(15)
The Centers for Disease Control reports that over 41% of adolescents
now suffer with fluoride damaged (discolored) teeth – 4% of it is
moderate or severe. At the same time tooth decay rates are increasing
in toddlers and untreated tooth decay has become epidemic.
A recent San Antonio, TX, news report revealed “After 9 years and $3
million of adding fluoride, research shows tooth decay hasn’t dropped
among the poorest of Bexar County’s children. It has only increased—up
13% in 2010.”(16) Tooth decay hasn’t declined in fluoridated
Gainsville, Florida (17) or fluoridation state-mandated Kentucky (18)
Actually tooth decay crises are occurring in all fluoridated cities,
states and countries (18)
“Fluoridation should be terminated; not funded and promoted,” says
Beeber. “To propose that Medicaid funds be wasted on fluoridation,
placing more New Yorkers in harm’s way, is unconscionable, unethical
and should be illegal,” says Beeber “Further, Pew should be
embarrassed to sully its name and reputation by associating with over-
zealous and misinformed fluoridationists,” says Beeber.
Fluoride's Adverse Health Effects Database: http://www.FluorideAction.Net/health
SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
References:
1) New York State Department of Health, “Redesigning the Medicaid
Program,”Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT), Health Disparities Work Group
Final Recommendations October 20, 2011
http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/docs/health_disparities_report.pdf
2) http://www.scribd.com/doc/18235930/NYC-Fluoridation-Costs-2008-Feb-2-2009-Letter-Page-1
and http://www.scribd.com/doc/18235931/NYC-2008-Fluoridation-Costs-Page-2-Feb-2009-Letter
3) Evidence that fluoridation fails New Yorkers
http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/fluoridationfailsnewyork.htm
4) http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/chart.htm
4a) Kaminsky LS, Mahoney MC, Leach J, Melius J, Miller MJ. Fluoride:
benefits and risks of exposure. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1990;1:261–281
http://crobm.iadrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/1/4/261
5) http://www.petervallone.com/index.php?page=fluoride-if-in-doubt-keep-it-out
6) The New York City Council Legislative Research Center, “Resolution
calling on the New York State Department of Health to remove fluoride
from New York State’s water supply.”
http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=917886&GUID=C3473AA2-67FE-4D2E-A901-CBD69085ED42&Options=ID|Text|&Search=fluoridation
7) New York State for Oral Health go to http://newyork.ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/
and click on NYS Laws and Regulations: New York Public Health – Title
1 – § 1100-A Fluoridation Law This was taken down in the middle of my
creating this news release but can be found here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/74902611/NYSCOF-s-Home-Rule-Bill-Challenged-by-PEW
8) The Pew Charitable Trust, “The Importance of Children's Oral
Health: What Policymakers Need to Know,”
Shelly Gehshan, Director, Pew Children’s Dental Campaign Slide 15
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Initiatives/Promotional_Items/Dental/dental_powerpoint.pdf?n=3439
9) http://www.freewebs.com/fluoridation/suffolkcountywaterdep.htm
10) http://www.liwc.org/pdf/PressRelease-020111-NoFlouride.pdf
11) http://securearkansasnetwork.org/uncategorized/vital-fluoride-concerns
12) http://www.FormulaFluoride.Webs.com
14) NYS Dental Journal November 2009 Oral Health During Perinatal
Period in New York State
Evaluation of 2005 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Data
Hiroko Iida, D.D.S., M.P.H.; Jayanth V. Kumar, D.D.S., M.P.H.; Anne M.
Radigan, B.A.http://www.nysdental.org/img/current-pdf/jrnlnov2009.pdf
15) Added to our drinking water: a chemical 'more toxic than lead?'
KENS 5 San Antonio by Joe Conger http://www.kens5.com/news/local/More-toxic-than-lead--134366538.html
16) “Dental health of low-income children is not good locally,” by
Anne Geggis, December 3, 2011
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111203/ARTICLES/111209857/-1/entertainment?Title=Dental-health-of-low-income-children-is-not-good-locally
17) “N.Ky. kids' teeth at risk,”
November 27,2011
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111127/NEWS0103/111270308/-N-Ky-kids-teeth-risk?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE