Health Care Reform
Recent News
The ADA has put together a report (updated April 2013) showing how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect dentists as health care providers, small employers and health care consumers.
Another useful document is the association's timeline showing when the various provisions of the new health care reform law will take effect. Some provisions took effect upon enactment, while others won’t kick in until 2018.
Return to TopAt Issue
For too long, the dire unmet oral health needs of a growing number of Americans unable to access dental care have been ignored due to their economic status, geographic location or a myriad of other barriers to care. Medicaid promises “coverage” to millions of our neediest citizens—mostly children—while inadequate funding betrays that promise.
Tens of thousands of dentists provide free care to hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged people each year through volunteer programs such as Give Kids A Smile, Donated Dental Services and Missions of Mercy. According to one survey, the value of this donated care amounted to $1.6 billion in a single year. However, no matter how much free care dentists give, volunteerism alone won't solve the problem because charity is not a health care system.
The ADA believes that a relatively small government investment in three areas can make a significant improvement in the oral health of Americans:
- Mend the tattered Medicaid safety net by improving the dental Medicaid program.
- Adequately fund proven oral disease prevention and wellness programs.
- Rebuild the dental public health infrastructure, which includes recruiting and retaining dentists who are competent in public health practice.
The American Dental Association urges Members of Congress to adopt the ADA’s recommendations in health care reform legislation.
Return to TopLetters and Testimony
- ADA coalition letter thanking Rep. Lungren for H.R. 5141, sent June 18, 2010 (PDF)
- ADA dental coalition partners letter Asking for FMAP Funding Extension, sent June 15, 2010 (PDF)
- Letter of support to Sen. Baucus for H.R. 4213, sent June 15, 2010 (PDF)
- Health Care Provisions of Interest to Dentists in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act Section of ARRA, posted June 15, 2010 (PDF)
- President Ron Tankersley's Written Testimony to Senate Indian Affairs Committee, submitted Dec. 3, 2009 (PDF)
- Dental Coalition letter to Senate Indian Affairs Committee, sent Dec. 2, 2009 (PDF)
- HC Reform “Side-by-Side” of House and Senate versions, Nov. 24, 2009 (PDF)
- Sept. 21 Letter to Senate Finance Committee (PDF)
- Senate HELP Committee Bill Summary (PDF)
- ADA Letter to Congress Concerning H.R. 3200 (PDF)
- ADA Position Statement on Health Care Reform (PDF)
- ADA Statement on "Improving Oral Health in America" (PDF)
- Letter to President Obama on Health Care Reform (PDF)
- ADA Position Paper on HR 2220 (PDF)
- Text of HR 2220 (DOC)
- Health Care Reform Talking Points (PDF)
Dr. Findley Reports on Health Care Reform
On July 20, 2009, ADA President Dr. John Findley in an alert to the membership reported on the status of the Association’s work on health care reform. You can read this alert at the link below:
- July 20 eGram to membership
- August 21 eGram to membership
Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
- Judy Sherman, Director of Congressional Affairs
Congressional Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-2400
Fax: 202-898-2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
