The ADA works closely with lawmakers, regulators, and others to help mend the tattered dental safety net. This includes reforming parts of the Medicaid program, which is the largest source of funding for medical and other health-related services for people with low income in the United States. The ADA is also fighting to maintain federal requirement for states to cover dental services in their respective CHIP programs, which together cover nearly 8 million children from low-income families.
Medicaid and CHIP
The Association's priorities are based on the major policies and positions (PDF) (Members Only) adopted by the ADA House of Delegates.
- Maintaining the federal requirement for states to cover dental services under the Medicaid Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
- Requiring states to cover dental services for Medicaid-eligible adults, and exempt all preventive dental services from cost-sharing requirements.
- Preserving the federal financing role in the Medicaid program and update the federal matching formula to address economic changes.
- Enhancing the federal Medicaid matching rate to 90/10 for dental care.
- Maintaining the federal requirement for states to cover dental services in their respective CHIP programs.
- November 22, 2021—Letter (PDF) to Senator Cardin to thank him for introducing S.3166, the Medicaid Dental Benefits Act.
- October 13, 2020—Letter (PDF) of support to U.S. Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for legislation, H.R. 6495 the Insular Area Medicaid Parity Act, that would lift the Medicaid funding cap in the U.S. Territories.
- November 17, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) Following up on meeting that ADA and AAPD held with Ms. Carol Blackford of CMS.
- October 2, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) Comments to CMS Administrator Seema Verma about updating the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System in order to improve patient access to dental procedures in hospitals and surgery centers.
- April 17, 2020—Letter (PDF) to Secretary Azar of HHS and Administrator Verma of CMS requesting Medicaid relief funds for Dentists.
- March 5, 2020—Letter (PDF) to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar thanking him for announcing the appointment of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief Dental Officer, and asking for more information.
Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.
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Prepared by: Division of Government and Public Affairs
Last Updated: November 30, 2021.