SJR 16-FEDERAL ENSURING LASTING SMILES ACT  3:32:22 PM CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16 Urging the United States Congress to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act; and urging lawmakers to advocate for policies that guarantee equitable access to vital healthcare. 3:32:45 PM SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District G, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SJR 16. She introduced the resolution, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, which urges Congress to require private health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects. She said coverage would include medically necessary services and items that improve, repair, or restore normal bodily function or appearance, as determined by the treating physician, with cost- sharing and coverage limits no more restrictive than those for other medical and surgical benefits. She stated that although rare, Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (HED) affects approximately 1 in 20,000 newborns worldwide and nearly 200,000 individuals in the United States. Treatment often requires both medical and dental care, yet many medically necessary dental services are inadequately covered, placing a significant financial burden on families. She said by passing this resolution, the Alaska Legislature would stand with families affected by congenital conditions and urge the Alaska congressional delegation to champion this legislation, affirming that access to essential medical and dental care is a right, not a privilege. 3:35:12 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked whether Medicaid covers these medical services. 3:35:51 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied that she wasn't sure. 3:36:06 PM CHAIR DUNBAR asked Ms. Brubaker to answer the question and offer testimony. 3:36:16 PM EMILY BRUBAKER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SJR 16. She answered that Medicaid does not cover the specific medical services for rare congenital anomalies. She said these services are viewed as cosmetic and unnecessary. She continued with her testimony stating that at the age of two she was diagnosed with a genetic condition that affects teeth, hair and skin. 3:37:17 PM At ease. 3:37:26 PM CHAIR DUNBAR reconvened the meeting. 3:37:43 PM MS. BRUBAKER stated that she will require numerous dental procedures, with estimated out-of-pocket costs of approximately $100,000. The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) would amend federal law to require private insurers to cover medically necessary procedures for individuals with rare congenital anomalies, significantly reducing this burden. She said that she has actively advocated for ELSA since childhood, traveling to Washington, D.C. multiple times and engaging with Alaska's congressional delegation. The legislation passed the U.S. House with a bipartisan supermajority in the 117th Congress and did not advance in the Senate. She said she hopes for reintroduction in the 119th Congress. She said with growing national and local support, including the Anchorage Assembly, ELSA would have a profound impact on families across Alaska and the nation. 3:40:20 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the committee for hearing the resolution. 3:40:38 PM CHAIR DUNBAR held SJR 16 in committee.