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.
- April 1, 2022—Coalition letter (PDF) asking Congress to protect coverage for beneficiaries should lawmakers and the administration seek to unwind enhanced Medicaid protections related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- February 17, 2022—Coalition Letter (PDF) from the ADA, AAPD, and AAOMS to the House Ways and Means Committee asking the Committee to support the coalition’s efforts to ensure equitable access to dental surgical services in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers for children and adults with special needs and disabilities who have debilitating oral health problems and need access to timely treatment.
- December 17, 2021—Coalition letter (PDF) calling for the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act to be included in the Senate’s Build Back Better reconciliation package. The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act would make comprehensive adult dental benefits a mandatory component of Medicaid coverage in every state.
- 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.
- April 6, 2022—American Dental Association (ADA) response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicaid Request for Information (RFI) 2022.
- April 1, 2022—Coalition letter (PDF) asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to protect coverage for beneficiaries should lawmakers and the administration seek to unwind enhanced Medicaid protections related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- 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 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.
The ADA’s Action for Dental Health (ADH) campaign is a nationwide response to the crisis in oral health care. The campaign brings dental health leaders and professionals together in support of three objectives:
- Providing care now for people suffering from untreated disease
- Strengthening and expanding the public and private safety net
- Preventing dental disease through advocacy and education
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Last Updated: November 30, 2021.