On Jan. 3. Senator Bill Cardin (D-Md.) introduced S. 22, Medicare Dental Benefit Act.
The bill would expand Medicare Part B benefits to cover dental and oral health services, including routine cleanings and exams, fillings and crowns, root canals, extractions and emergency dental care, currently not covered under Medicare.
Why is it important?
In October 2018, the ADA adopted a resolution to create an ad hoc committee to study the minimum principles that should be included in potential legislation adding a dental benefit to Medicare. ASDA continues to monitor this issue.
Next step:
Bill introduced to extend funding for NHSC and other key programs
What's the issue?
On January 18, Senator Lamar Alexander (R- Tenn.) introduced legislation that would extend funding for Community Health Centers, Teaching Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) through 2024.
On Feb. 1, the ADA sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions thanking them for introducing the bill. ADA President Dr. Jeffrey Cole and ADA Executive Director Dr. Kathy O'Loughlin wrote "community health centers provide necessary care to vulnerable populations, including uninsured individuals and those enrolled in Medicaid. Many community health centers have dental clinics or work with dentists in their communities to ensure that necessary dental services are available to patients seeking care."
Why is it important?
Currently, 10,900 NHSC members and 1,300 student members provide culturally competent care to underserved populations at more than 5,000 NHSC-approved health care sites in urban, rural and frontier areas. The NHSC loan repayment program and scholarships enable dental students to provide care after graduation in areas that are traditionally underserved.
In 2017, ASDA effectively lobbied to extend funding for NHSC after Congress initially failed to allocate funding for the program in 2018.
Next Step:
Senate introduces bill to amend McCarran-Ferguson
What's the issue?
On Feb. 6, Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced S. 350. The bill calls for authorizing the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to enforce federal antitrust laws against health insurance companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct.
Why is it important?
ASDA has been advocating for this bill alongside the ADA since 2017. Repeal of the antitrust exemption for health insurance companies would help inject more competition into the insurance marketplace by authorizing greater federal antitrust enforcement in instances where state regulators fail to or cannot act. Promoting lower prices, greater consumer choice, and increased innovation through robust competition is the role of the antitrust laws.