Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Defends Dental Care Access for Unhoused Residents

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said dental care for unhoused meth users is already covered through California's Medi-Cal healthcare program. She made the statement during an interview with ABC7 on Friday after her comments at a mayoral candidate forum drew criticism.

During the forum last week, Bass said many unhoused people lack teeth because of meth use. "How many people that you meet that are unhoused don't have teeth at all? Why? Because meth rots your teeth," she said. She added that comprehensive healthcare is needed for people to succeed.

Bass told ABC7 that the care is already available through Medi-Cal. "So, when I say comprehensive healthcare, it's actually what people can get from Medi-Cal," she said. " When asked if taxpayers would pay, Bass replied that the funding is already in place. "Well, we already pay for it. It's already paid for. It's the linkage that hasn't happened," she said.

Bass said the city has taken steps to address substance use even though health services are the county's responsibility. She noted that the city used lawsuit money from tobacco settlements to establish contracts with substance abuse organizations and refer people to treatment programs.

Bass said helping unhoused people access dental care supports their ability to find jobs and reduce reliance on public assistance while they are in interim housing. Fox News Digital reached out to Bass' office for comment. Bass faces a competitive re-election challenge against Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman and former reality television star Spencer Pratt.