Webinar Will Contrast Results of Conflicting Approaches to Dental Care in the U.S.

Washington, D.C. – A study examining trends in untreated cavities across all age groups, and another focused on the oral health of senior citizens, will be discussed during a webinar sponsored by the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute at 12 pm (EDT), Tuesday, Oct. 11.

A focus on children in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act has led to a falling of unmet needs among low-income children, the studies indicate. But public policy does not focus on the dental needs of adults with the same urgency. For instance, dental care is an optional benefit in Medicaid and is not provided for in Medicare. As a consequence, unmet needs are rising among adults and seniors, the studies indicate.

The webinar will be hosted by Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the Health Policy Institute. Participating will be: Ron Pollack, Families USA Executive Director; Lisa Simpson, president and CEO of Academy Health; Tricia Neuman, senior vice president and director of Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Lynda Flowers, senior advisor for Public Policy Institute at AARP.

Register for the teleconference

The ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) is a thought leader and trusted source for policy knowledge on critical issues affecting the U.S. dental care system. HPI produces innovative research for policymakers, oral health advocates, and dental care providers. HPI’s interdisciplinary team of health economists, statisticians, and analysts has extensive expertise in health systems policy research. HPI staff routinely collaborates with researchers in academia and policy think tanks. For more information, visit www.ada.org/hpi.