The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the “Build Back Better” legislative package (otherwise known as the Budget Reconciliation bill), without an expansion of dental benefits within the Medicare program. The legislation will now move to the Senate.

The ADA’s policy calls for any proposed dental benefit legislation to be sufficiently funded and efficiently administered. However, the Part B dental benefit proposed by Congressional Democrats would not meet that criteria. The ADA’s advocacy—including nearly 60,000 grassroots emails sent to Congress by dentists—helped ensure that the proposed Part B benefit was not included in the “Build Back Better” package passed by the House.

The Senate will now begin to consider the “Build Back Better” bill. As they do, the ADA remains committed to advocating for the ADA policy that works to ensure access to oral health care for low-income seniors.

We will continue to update you as the Senate deliberates on this legislation.