3 things you missed in government this week

Improved data exchange, oral health care access, Medicare

“Three Things You Missed in Government This Week” is designed to offer a way to stay informed on the topics of the week. These updates are meant to offer brief details on legislative or regulatory topics to keep dentists engaged and up to date. To explore the ADA’s latest advocacy efforts, more information is available at ADA.org/Advocacy.

1.    The ADA is highlighting the benefits of improved data exchange for dentists and patients, sharing support for improved dental-medical interoperability, and addressing barriers faced by dental providers in adopting and implementing electronic health records, prescription drug monitoring tools and standards-based application programming interfaces. In response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Health Technology Ecosystem Request for Information, the Association wrote a letter highlighting the benefits of improved data exchange for dentists and patients. 

2.    The ADA and three other organizations submitted testimony in support of federal programs aimed at expanding access to oral health care. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Oral Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Oral Health Training program, and National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The statement encouraged the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee to preserve investments in oral health care as it considers funding for fiscal year 2026. 

3.    The American Dental Association held a webinar June 17 covering information for dentists wishing to treat Medicare beneficiaries and outlining other new requirements for Medicare billing set to begin next month. The webinar, Medicare Claims Submissions & Administrative Modifiers: Updates for Dentists Treating Medicare Beneficiaries, featured two member dentists who taught providers understand how to best prepare for treating Medicare beneficiaries.