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NY Medicaid Patients Win Dental Settlement, Expanding Coverage for 5 Million – The New York Times

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NY Medicaid Patients Win Dental Settlement, Expanding Coverage for 5 Million – The New York Times

Medicaid programs, which vary from state to state, are not required to cover dental care; several states do not. But under federal law, if a state Medicaid program does cover an optional category of care — such as dentistry, prescription drugs or optometry — it must cover all medically necessary care in that category.

The suit argued that dental health was essential not just to overall physical health but also to psychological well-being and the ability to find or keep a job.

“You need to have teeth to function in our society,” said Belkys Garcia, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society, which filed the suit. “It impacts everything in your life — your relationships, how people see themselves, how others see you.” Sign up for the New York Today Newsletter Each morning, get the latest on New York businesses, arts, sports, dining, style and more. Get it sent to your inbox.

For decades, Ms. Garcia said, New York’s coverage rules for Medicaid were “structured to pull your teeth rather than save them.” And because one of the main jobs of a tooth is to hold its neighbors in place, an extraction often has a domino effect: Losing teeth leads to losing more teeth.

5 ways to avoid sitting too much – Mayo Clinic

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5 ways to avoid sitting too much – Mayo Clinic

What can you do to minimize your sitting time? Here are a few ideas:

Take a break from sitting every 30 minutes. Get up to get a glass of water, take out the trash, or do some squats or simple stretches. These breaks are also important during long car rides and plane trips. Set an alarm if this helps you stay aware of the time.
Stand during routine tasks. Take a walk while talking on the phone or stand during your favorite television show. Try a standing desk.
If you use a desk at home or work, consider switching to a version that allows you to change between standing and sitting. You can also improvise with a high table or counter. Treadmill desks, which add in physical activity, are another option.
Take your meetings on the go. Whether chatting with co-workers or meeting friends for a coffee date, suggest taking a walk while you talk.
Invest in a fitness monitor. These devices can alert you when you've spent too much time without moving. Setting a daily step count goal can also motivate you to get up and move.