Nonprofit advocacy organization Families USA has asked the U.S. Congress to add oral health coverage to Medicare.
In a statement, the organization supported the recently introduced Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2021. The bill seeks to extend Medicare to include oral health coverage in Medicare Part B, offering comprehensive oral health coverage and supporting access to care for low-income Medicare enrollees, Families USA noted.
Families USA also urged Congress to increase funding for Medicaid both to improve oral health and to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization wants Congress to add a specific Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase for adult dental services as part of coronavirus relief legislation.
Oral health is directly related to COVID-19 outcomes, Families USA noted. On top of that, people without oral health coverage frequently have no choice but to use emergency rooms for dental problems, further exacerbating an already strained system. Legislators must act quickly to avoid these scenarios, Families USA said.
