WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV-04) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) have introduced the Medicare Dental Coverage Act, which would grow Medicare Component B to cover most dental solutions, including preventive dental treatment, regimen dental remedies, and dentures.
“Dental wellness is an critical part of total health and fitness,” explained Congressman Steven Horsford. “Without reasonably priced dental protection as a result of Medicare, Nevada seniors are forced to pick out amongst significant out-of-pocket fees and a lessen excellent of daily life. As I perform to reduced the value of wellness treatment and prescription medicines, I’m psyched to introduce the Medicare Dental Protection Act, which will extend obtain to dental coverage for extra than 300,000 Nevada seniors.”
“Prolonged deficiency of accessibility to dental treatment can guide to other significant medical conditions, and communities of colour are disproportionately impacted. Undesirable oral wellbeing has been linked to coronary heart disease, dementia, kidney sickness and rheumatoid arthritis,” claimed Congresswoman Kelly. “Rep. Horsford and I are introducing the Medicare Dental Protection Act to assure that each Medicare beneficiary can receive affordable dental care to maintain them selves healthy and avoid unnecessary health care prices down the line.”
At present, almost 37 million Medicare beneficiaries lack access to dental care, placing them at threat for preventable well being troubles. Devoid of remedy, oral ailments such as cavities, critical gum illness, and critical tooth reduction can exacerbate persistent circumstances like diabetic issues and cardiovascular condition, and have been connected to elevated mortality for these with persistent kidney sickness.
Medicare Part B at the moment excludes protection for most dental expert services. As a final result, many seniors are compelled to fork out burdensome out-of-pocket charges or forego remedy. In a current AARP study, about fifty percent of older older people cited expense as a cause for skipping dental tests. In 2016, a fifth of Medicare beneficiaries who utilised dental expert services spent far more than $1,000 out-of-pocket.
Communities of coloration are disproportionately impacted by dental wellness inequities. In accordance to a Kaiser Family members Foundation research, 71% of Black Medicare beneficiaries and 65% of Hispanic beneficiaries went without a dental check out in the past yr, compared to 43% of white beneficiaries.
The Medicare Dental Protection Act of 2021 would:
- Reimburse dentists and other licensed oral overall health specialists for preventive and screening providers this kind of as oral exams, dental cleanings, dental x-rays, and fluoride treatment options.
- Deal with essential and important dental therapies as outlined by the Secretary of Well being and Human Services.
- Medicare beneficiaries would be suitable to obtain two oral examinations and two dental cleanings each and every 12 months.
- Deal with a total or partial established of dentures when each 5 years, or more usually in cases where a dentist or capable oral overall health professional establishes the dentures do not suit the person.
The comprehensive text of the monthly bill can be discovered right here.
A one particular-website page factsheet on the bill can be discovered listed here.
Media Call
Geneva Kropper | [email protected] | 202-849-0251
More Stories
Healthy Teeth For Babies Key to Future Dental Health
Difference Between a Cosmetic Dentist and a Regular Dentist
Children’s Dental Care and Early Prevention