CareQuest Institute Applauds Congressional Leaders for Urging Expansion of Dental Health Coverage

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July 5, 2022

Members of the U.S. House and Senate Sent Letters to the Federal Administration Advocating for Greater Access to Dental Care Under Medicare 

July 5, 2022 (Boston, MA) – Today, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® — a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system — applauded members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for urging the Administration to expand access to medically necessary dental care under the Medicare program.  

In letters to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Senators and Representatives stressed the need to expand coverage of medically necessary oral and dental health services to improve the health of Americans enrolled in Medicare and reduce medical costs for the program.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health President and CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan issued the following statement:  

“We commend these members of Congress for recognizing that oral health care is essential. Expanding medically necessary dental coverage under Medicare would greatly improve access to oral health coverage for millions of eligible seniors and people with disabilities. 

Dental care is unaffordable and inaccessible for so many, leaving millions of people without the care they need to manage chronic illness and maintain quality of life. Right now, too many Medicare beneficiaries — including a disproportionate number of people of color, Indigenous communities, and rural Americans — have been left without basic oral health care and the impact on their physical and mental well-being is profound.   

Strengthening Medicare by including dental coverage would represent a giant step toward improving health equity, access, and outcomes for seniors and people with disabilities. We will continue to work with lawmakers and our other partners to advocate for dental care to be covered by Medicare because it’s a commonsense solution to the many barriers that millions of people, including older adults, face when accessing health care.”

Additional research and facts about oral health and Medicare: 

Read the full House and Senate letters. 

Direct Media Inquiries to:    

Kristin LaRoche    

klaroche@carequest.org  

857-275-5038 

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