Fact Sheet

Trump Administration Seeks to Allow Hospitals, Doctors, Nurses, and State Agencies to Discriminate

In late January, the Trump administration quietly announced two alarming new policies that will lead to more discrimination in health care: a change in Medicaid policy made through executive order, an...

Why States Should Offer Extensive Oral Health Benefits to Adults Covered by Medicaid

Millions of adults lack coverage for oral health care and cannot afford to pay for needed care on their own. States can make a difference by covering extensive oral health benefits in their Medicaid p...

How Medicaid Waivers Could Limit Access to Oral Health Care

A Medicaid “waiver” is a state request to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain federal requirements of the Medicaid program. Traditionally, Medicaid waivers under section 11...

America’s Seniors Need Medicare Oral Health Coverage

Nearly 60 million seniors and disabled persons rely on the Medicare program – and only about one-third of them have any coverage for oral health care. The Medicare statute currently excludes coverag...

Oral Health Questions to Ask Your Candidate

The 2018 elections provide a chance to bring oral health issues to the forefront of policymaker and public discussions—an important opportunity for an issue that is often forgotten, left behind, or ...

Buying Children’s Dental Coverage Through the Marketplace

Updated for the 2020 plan year, Families USA and the Children’s Dental Health Project published this guide to help families choose a pediatric oral health plan in their state’s marketplace. During...

For Rural Seniors, Improving Overall Health Requires Improving Oral Health Care

Oral health matters for seniors in rural America. In rural areas, nearly one-fifth of residents are 65 and over. This population faces major barriers to good oral health, including cost, lack of denta...

For California’s Rural Seniors, Improving Oral Health Care Could Mean Better Health

Oral health matters for seniors in rural California. This population faces major barriers to good oral health, including cost, lack of dental coverage, and limited access to providers. Without address...

A Deep Dive into the Connections Between Oral and Behavioral Health

Oral health is an important aspect of overall health and influences physical and mental well-being, but receives less of its fair share of attention and resources. For people with mental health condit...

California’s Seniors Would Benefit From Medicare Oral Health Coverage

Six million Californians rely on the Medicare program. Nationally, about two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries do not have any coverage for oral health care. Medicare currently covers almost no oral h...