Insights Column

Medicare Should Pay for Oral Health Care That Is Necessary to Manage Serious Illnesses

Oral health is an important part of overall health for everyone – but it can be crucially important to someone who is fighting a serious condition, such as kidney failure, an autoimmune disease, can...

Oral Health Coverage Boosted in Some State Budgets, Lessons for 2018

This year, several states passed budgets that expand oral health coverage for adults in Medicaid. Expanding this coverage goes a long way to improving overall health, making oral health care more ac...

Oral Health Lands on Advocates’ Agendas Across the Nation

Even as health care has become a politically charged issue this year, we’ve seen oral health advocates work diligently and some states make progress to improve oral health benefits in their Medicaid...

Medicaid Cuts Limit Access to Oral Health Care

Congressional proposals to cut and cap Medicaid will put enormous pressure on states to cut services – and will make it nearly impossible for states that now have gaps in their coverage to ever catc...

Troubling Trends for Oral Health in Medicaid Waivers

The following blog post was co-written by Eliot Fishman and Colin Reusch. Fishman is Senior Director of Health Policy at Families USA, a leading national voice for health care consumers dedicated t...

Why Medicare Should Cover Oral Health: Cheryl’s Story

This blog is part of an ongoing series of stories from people across the country who need comprehensive dental coverage, but do not have access to it. Families USA, in partnership with the DentaQuest ...

Medicare Part B Offers a Way Forward for Dental Coverage

In July, Families USA joined the American Dental Association, Oral Health America, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Justice in Aging, DentaQuest Foundation, Santa Fe Group and other industry leaders, in ...

Action for Dental Health Act brings much needed attention to oral health issues

Nobody wants a root canal, but millions of Americans with mouth pain know it might be their best shot at protecting a tooth and stopping an infection from spreading—if they can afford it. Oral healt...

Congress Shows Support for Medically Necessary Dental Care

We’re advancing toward oral health coverage in Medicare, one small step at a time Millions of seniors and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health care, but it does not cover thei...

Addressing Rural Seniors’ Unmet Needs for Oral Health Care

Cheryl Fish-Parcham (Families USA), Melissa Burroughs (Families USA), Eric P. Tranby (Dentaquest Partnerhsip for Oral Health Advancement), Avery R. Brow (Dentaquest Partnership for Oral Health Advance...