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With nearly 46 million Americans living without health insurance, the ADA wants members to know it is a national supporter of "Cover the Uninsured Week," a national outreach program designed to raise awareness about the uninsured.

This year's program is May 1-7 and features activities in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The goal of the program is to let Congress know that "health coverage must be a top priority," according to an event press release.

"These activities will tell our nation's leaders that health coverage must be their priority," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., president and chief executive officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which established the event in 2003 and is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans. Other national supporters include the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Academy of Pediatrics.

"Because of our growing understanding of the relationship between oral and systemic health, it's more important than ever that everyone in this country have access to comprehensive health care," said ADA President Bob Brandjord. "The ADA stands behind this program in getting the word out to Congress."

The ADA supports a number of proposals to help cover the uninsured, including simple fixes like adequately funding state Medicaid programs and expanding the health savings accounts. The Association also supports passing federal legislation to allow small businesses to join together to purchase insurance for their employees.

"The ADA believes that as the number of uninsured Americans increases, the need to address the problem becomes more critical," Dr. Brandjord continued. "We are proud to be a 'Cover the Uninsured Week' national supporter and we encourage all of our members to get involved in activities taking place in their communities."

For more information about activities in your state, visit www.covertheuninsured.org .