3 things you missed in government this week
Chronic disease prevention, access to oral health care, CMS chief dental officer
“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 urging lawmakers to include oral health in federal efforts to modernize care coordination for chronic disease prevention and treatment. ADA President Richard Rosato, D.M.D., and Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Shapiro, D.D.S., submitted a formal statement to the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and its Subcommittee on Health, emphasizing that oral health must be considered a core component of overall health for patients with chronic conditions.
2. The ADA outlined its priorities for addressing cost drivers and improving access to oral health care in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee ahead of its hearing, the Rising Cost of Health Care: Considering Meaningful Solutions for all Americans. The Association submitted comments stressing that oral health must be included in any national health cost strategy and offered recommendations to help the committee address costs while improving value and access to dental care.
3. An ADA-led coalition of organizations representing dentists, dental specialists and the broader oral health community is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to quickly appoint a new chief dental officer and keep the position within the Office of the Administrator. In a joint letter sent to CMS Administrator Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., the group emphasized the importance of senior oral health leadership within CMS, particularly as the agency continues initiatives that integrate oral health into medical programs and value-based care models.
