New Rule Expands Medicare Coverage for Dental Care: The Beginning of Progress

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released a statement regarding tonight’s release of the Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which includes a modest expansion of dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries—as Rep. Doggett has pressed for. He said:

“Today’s action expanding Medicare coverage for some dental care is a positive step forward that will improve the health of seniors and people with disabilities, alleviating suffering for some soon—but much more work remains to secure lasting access to life-improving care. Ultimately, passing legislation like my Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act is necessary to provide comprehensive coverage, but there is more the Administration can and should continue to do, as seniors and others with disabilities struggle without the essential dental coverage they need and deserve.”

Representative Doggett and Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA) led 107 Members in September in submitting comments supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule to expand Medicare coverage for medically necessary dental care. The Members welcomed CMS’s proposal and encouraged the agency to expand coverage even further to the broadest range of services possible. The full letter is available here.

Responding to a June letter from Representatives Doggett and Barragan, CMS proposed this rule on July 29^th with public comments permitted through September 6^th.

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