Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell recently introduced a bill designed to expand dental coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the VA. The Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024 aims to improve access to dental care in underserved areas by increasing reimbursement rates for dental procedures under Medicaid and prioritizing dental service accessibility in community health centers, schools, nursing homes, and mobile units nationwide.1
It will cover five main areas aimed at ending the dental crisis in America: coverage (prioritizing reaching disadvantaged populations), access points (providing more places people can go to access a qualified oral health care professional), workforce (increase the number of providers in areas with the greatest need), education (help oral health professionals understand how to better serve vulnerable communities), and research (help fund research on prevention and disease management).2
Source: How the 2024 Dental Reform Bill could transform dental practice and reimbursement / Dentistry IQ