Oral Health Organization Sees Missed Opportunity in Reconciliation Bill Framework

As Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress debate the elements of the reconciliation bill framework, an organization focused on oral health said the decision not to include a Medicare dental benefit will exacerbate existing health disparities.

Boston-based CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a national nonprofit organization focused on improving oral health for all, expressed disappointment in the reconciliation framework. It noted that Americans across the political spectrum have expressed approval of Medicare dental coverage. It cited a YouGov survey, which found an overwhelming majority of likely midterm voters – including 82 percent of voters in 2022 Senate battleground states – favor adding dental benefits to Medicare.

Strengthening Medicare by including dental coverage would represent a giant step toward improving health equity, access, and outcomes for seniors and people with disabilities, CareQuest argues. The decision to leave this program out of the reconciliation bill will only exacerbate problems such as: 

• According to the CDC, one in five adults aged 65 years or older have untreated tooth decay or have lost all their teeth and more than two in three older adults have gum disease. 

• In 2018, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost half of all Medicare beneficiaries did not have a dental visit, with higher rates among those who are Black (68%), Hispanic (61%), or have low incomes (73%).  

• Twenty percent of rural seniors have not seen a dentist in more than five years. 

• Poor oral health has a direct impact on overall health and is associated with increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illness, and Alzheimer’s. 

When the framework was announced, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health CEO and President Myechia Minter-Jordan, M.D., M.B.A., said, “Today’s announcement is a huge disappointment to all those who care so deeply about creating a more equitable health system. By failing to include a Medicare dental benefit, Congress is leaving in place one of the greatest drivers of disparities in our health system and leaving millions of older Americans and people with disabilities without access to essential care. Progress is never a straight line. We urge Congress to add critical dental benefits to Medicare as the package is finalized. CareQuest Institute will continue to fight until everyone has access to the healthcare they deserve, and we build a more equitable health system for all.”