Click here to see the full article written for the ADA by Jennifer Garvin

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced provisions of a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package Sept. 15 that includes a proposal to expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The bill calls for vision benefits to begin in 2022, hearing in 2023 and dental in 2028.

The ADA is opposed to the Medicare dental provision as proposed in the committee-passed bill, but does support an alternative proposal expanding access to oral health care for low-income seniors. The ADA proposal is in line with ADA policy and includes a range of services necessary to achieve and maintain oral health for beneficiaries with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level.