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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today introduced a bill to expand dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the VA, and grow the dental workforce to increase access to care in underserved areas. The Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024 would make dental care an essential benefit under the Affordable Care Act, increase reimbursement rates for dental procedures under Medicaid, and make dental care services available in more community health centers, schools, nursing homes, and mobile units throughout the country.

“Too many people don’t go to the dentist because of fear, not of the dentist itself, which many admittedly have, but more about the bill they will receive after. A lack of dental care can worsen other serious medical conditions, but without adequate coverage, millions of Americans go without the critical oral care they need,” said Rep. Dingell. “This comprehensive legislation will make it easier for Americans to get the dental care they deserve, by expanding coverage and increasing care providers, especially in rural and underserved communities. Taking care of your oral health is essential to overall health, and there’s no reason seeing the dentist should be more difficult than seeing any other health care provider.”

This legislation:

• Extends comprehensive dental health insurance to millions of Americans who do not have coverage today;
• Ensures that there are more places people can go to access a qualified oral health care professional to get the care they need by increasing funding for health clinics and school-based dental services;
• Uses multiple strategies to increase the number of oral health professionals who will work in communities with the greatest need;
• Addresses the need to educate current and future oral health care providers to better serve vulnerable populations and to integrate oral health care into overall health care; and
• Authorizes funding for research on prevention and disease management to improve oral health care delivery and the oral health status of our country.

Nearly 70 million adults and nearly 8 million children in America have no dental insurance, and for many of those with dental insurance, the coverage is inadequate. Nearly half of Americans with dental insurance have skipped appointments because they could not afford to pay for the dental procedures they need.

Nearly one out of every five seniors in America have lost all their natural teeth and many of them cannot afford dentures – which can cost thousands of dollars. Seventy percent of older Americans have some sort of periodontal disease which can lead to rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that treating periodontal disease in people with chronic health conditions can save money – up to $27.8 billion could be saved annually for Medicare patients with heart disease if these patients got the dental treatment they need.

Lack of affordable dental care is a problem all over America, but disproportionately impacts low-income Americans, pregnant women, people with disabilities, veterans, those who live in rural communities, and Black, Latino, and Native Americans.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), introduced companion legislation earlier this year.

See a summary of the legislation here.