The association is asking members to contact their congressional representatives to voice their opposition to the current proposal under consideration by the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees
The American Dental Association (ADA) is asking US-based dental professionals to contact their members of Congress to oppose a legislative proposal that would make dental care a part of Medicare Part B coverage.
The ADA instead wants to see any expansion of Medicare to include dental to be through a separate new program that recognizes the differences in the delivery of oral health care compared to other health care services. The House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees are currently considering a proposal that includes language to expand Medicare Part B to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
In an August 12 letter to Congress, Daniel J. Klemmedson, DDS, MS, ADA president, called for comprehensive dental benefit that meets the needs of beneficiaries whose income is up to 300% of the federal poverty level.
In a September 8 grassroots alert, the association told members, “Write your congressional representative and tell them that you oppose the current legislative proposal being considered by the House committees and urge them to consider alternative approaches that would not only reflect dentistry’s unique delivery of care, but would actually provide oral health care to seniors who need it most.”
