Senator Proposes Medicare Dental Legislation

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced S.22, the Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2019, on January 3, 2019. If enacted, the bill would allow older adults and individuals with disabilities to access oral health care as they do their medical care—through Medicare.

S.22 covers services necessary to prevent disease and promote oral health, restore oral structures to health and function, and treat emergency conditions. A provision under Medicare Part B signifies that all beneficiaries would receive coverage, including those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

Senator Cardin noted in a press release, “We’ve made incredible progress expanding dental coverage to children, now we must do the same for the older Americans across this country.”

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults who are of low socioeconomic status, lack insurance, are members of racial or ethnic minorities or who are disabled, homebound, or institutionalized are at greatest risk of poor oral health. Currently, the federal Medicare program does not cover routine dental care.

The bill has the support of Families USA, Justice in Aging, and Center for Medicare Advocacy.

From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. February 2019;17(2):11.