ADA advocates for oral health reforms in letter to Trump transition team
In a comprehensive policy letter to President Donald Trump, the American Dental Association has outlined steps to integrate oral health into federal healthcare priorities, emphasizing its critical role in overall public health.
Oral health is a critical component of overall health, the ADA said, and addressing challenges in this area will lead to improvements in the well-being of many Americans. In a 15-page Jan. 17 letter, the Association outlined key oral health priorities in several federal government agencies.
The ADA’s priorities aim to, among other things, improve access to care, integrate oral health into broader health care systems and promote evidence-based approaches to public health changes.
Addressing the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the ADA expressed interest in streamlining regulatory compliance for providers, championing the position of a chief dental officer within the agency’s administrator’s office, and including adult dental coverage as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act."
“Through these and other efforts, the ADA works to strengthen the partnership between CMS, dental professionals, and patients, ensuring that the oral health needs of all Americans are addressed effectively and equitably,” reads the letter, signed by ADA President Brett Kessler, D.D.S., and Executive Director Raymond Cohlmia, D.D.S.
Addressing the Department of Defense, the ADA expressed its continued support for elevating the rank of military chief dental officers to a two-star equivalent to strengthen dental leadership within military health care. It also urged the department to restore the prorated retirement benefits for dentists, physicians and chaplains who chose to join the military after age 42, as well as recommended that the agency take administrative action to restore prorated retirement for this group.
The ADA encouraged the funding of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans who are eligible for benefits receive timely and comprehensive care and restore authority of the assistant under secretary for health dentistry position to ensure that dental health has equitable representation in the decision-making process. The Association also advocated for updates to the department’s Community Care program, including improving contact terms to expand access to high-quality dental care and ensuring continuity of care for veterans by implementing policies that consider the impact of care transitions when authorizing visits.
The letter said the ADA looks forward to helping the Department of Education expand its income-based repayment options on federal student loans and adopt major reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Suggested reforms include simplifying the application process to reduce administrative barriers, and clarifying and expanding the definitions for full-time employment, qualifying employers and qualifying monthly payments ensuring that dental professionals working in diverse public service settings can access the program.
To the Department of Labor, the ADA advocated against an overly broad interpretation of “preemption” granted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, “emphasizing concerns that broad assumed ERISA preemption by carriers’ limits state-level regulation of dental insurance.” The Association also said aims to continue working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on active rulemakings that impact health care settings.
Within the Department of Justice, the letter expressed commitment to promoting fair business practices and protecting consumers in dentistry. Drs. Kessler and Cohlmia said the ADA advocates for policies that foster fair competition, transparency and ethical behavior across the marketplace through its engagement with the Federal Trade Commission. The letter highlighted key benefits of the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, which repealed specific antitrust exemptions granted to health insurers, including dental insurers, when it was signed into law in 2021.
In a section on the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, the ADA expressed interest in exploring opportunities within the administration to expand eligibility for flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to include at-home dental care products, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss. Expanding eligibility for these accounts to include dental care products “aligns with broader public health priorities” as preventive oral health products are cost-effective ways to improve oral health outcomes, particularly in underserved areas, the ADA said.
“Oral health is a cornerstone of overall health, and we stand ready to collaborate on policies and initiatives that will improve access to care, enhance public health, and support the dental workforce across the country,” the letter concludes.
