On the surface, you’d expect dentists to be fond of the Democratic proposal to expand Medicare to include dental (along with vision and hearing) coverage. It’s one of the things progressives are battling to include in the fiscal year 2022 budget reconciliation bill, a.k.a. the Build Back Better package, assuming Democratic centrists don’t shrink the
Do you have dental anxiety — or even dental phobia? You're not alone. Clinical psychologist Lisa Heaton studies the fear of the dentist and joins us to discuss. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040455958/how-to-manage-fear-of-the-dentist-companies-pledge-to-hire-afghan-refugees
Working closely with the ADA, state dental society advocacy efforts have resulted in nearly 100 dental insurance reform proposals in state legislatures during the 2020-21 season. In all, 26 significant dental insurance reform bills became law in 16 states. Dr. White “As America’s leading oral health advocate, the ADA works tirelessly to influence public
One of the biggest changes ever proposed to Medicare is working its way through Congress, and if it passes, and is signed into law by President Biden, it would put a smile on the face of tens of millions of beneficiaries—literally. The change would add dental benefits to Medicare for the first time since the
“The ADA has a duty to respond when Congress intends to act on adding a dental benefit to Medicare.” This was one of the key messages in a new FAQ the ADA created in order to explain the ADA’s response to a legislative proposal currently being considered by Congress that would expand the nation’s Medicare
Are you keeping an eye on your eyes and teeth? Whether you realize it or not, both are important to your overall health. Let's start with eyes. A comprehensive vision exam can tell you more than whether you need new glasses; it can reveal other conditions that might be affecting your health. Here are a
As Congress considers expanding Medicare to include dental benefits as part of the fiscal year 2022 federal budget, the American Dental Association is advocating for a distinct program that would provide comprehensive dental care to low-income older adults. Dr. Klemmedson "We hope that an innovative approach that is adequately funded and efficiently administered and utilizes
While establishing a “unified system” may not be the most feasible approach to solving issues related to dental eligibility and benefits verification, the ADA could provide significant value in driving improvement in that area, according to a July study completed by Change Healthcare, a Nashville-based health care technology company. The company offered four recommendations on
People don’t become dentists to spend their time navigating the insurance claims process. They do it to take care of people. Unfortunately, the reality of dealing with insurance carriers and their varying claims policies can create headaches not only for dentists and their front-office staff, but for patients as well. Dr. Watson “It can
Life is returning to normal. But where dental health is concerned, normal may not be good enough. According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even BEFORE the pandemic, one-third of American adults under 65 hadn’t had a dental exam or cleaning in more than a year. That is a
