As part of the Consortium for Medically Necessary Oral Health Coverage, COHI joined in supporting the expansion of Medicare coverage for medically necessary oral/dental health therapies. A letter was submitted to Administrator Brooks-LaSure at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to urge the Administration to explore options for extending such evidence-based coverage for all those on Medicare. 

 

Currently, most Medicare beneficiaries do not receive oral/dental care even when medically necessary to treat medicare-covered diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. This lack of oral health coverage heightens the health risk from these other diseases and medical conditions resulting in costly medical complications and increasing financial burden on individuals and Medicare. 

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You can view the full letter here.