Congressman Steven Horsford introduces legislation to provide dental coverage to seniors

Statement

After hearing from Nevadans about their ongoing health care needs, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced H.R. 4650, the Medicare Dental Act of 2019 which would allow Medicare beneficiaries to have access to dental coverage for most dental services such as preventive dental care, routine dental treatments, and dentures. This bill is a part of the larger drug pricing package, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), which takes bold action to level the playing field for American patients and taxpayers.

"It is time for our seniors to have access to the care they need -- including dental visits, which are a vital part of keeping older Americans healthy," said Congressman Horsford, who is joined in introducing this legislation by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02). "This gap in Medicare coverage leaves America's seniors at risk for preventable oral health issues that can result in unnecessary hospital and emergency room visits, long-term health issues, and higher Medicare spending overall."

In 2016, a fifth of Medicare beneficiaries spent $1,000 out-of-pocket to cover dental expenses. These exorbitant out-of-pocket costs are piled onto already-rising medical costs for America's seniors. This bill would allow seniors to opt-in to dental care in their Medicare plan to avoid these costs, which Congressman Horsford is hoping will alleviate the stress of medical expenses for the Nevadans he represents in Congress.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Medicare have no dental coverage and nearly half of all older adults reported skipping dental exams due to cost. Forgoing necessary dental care can result in poor oral health which can increase the risk of serious problems such as heart attack, stroke and poorly controlled diabetes, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Additionally, skipping regular dental exams can cause gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancers to go undetected, leaving our seniors vulnerable to further health problems.

"When we turn 65, our teeth don't just fall out. They remain a vital, functioning part of our bodies for our entire lives. To stay healthy, we need to keep our teeth, mouth, and gums healthy; that means access to affordable dental care," said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, member of the Health Subcommittee and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust. "As the House takes action to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for American families, we should use the government's cost savings to expand health-preserving dental coverage to older Americans."

H.R. 4650 provides vital dental preventive and screening services as well as coverage for basic (e.g., tooth extractions and oral disease management services) and major (e.g., root canals) treatment services. The bill also provides coverage for dentures. The Ways and Means Committee, of which Congressman Horsford is a member, will debate this legislation on Thursday in hearing entitled "Investing in the U.S. Health System by lowering drug prices, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and improving Medicare benefits."

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