The Organized Dentistry Coalition, led by the ADA, is urging the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not to reinstate a prohibition on routine adult dental services as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The coalition's letter responds to a CMS proposal in the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters that would reverse a provision from the 2025 Payment Notice, which allowed states to add adult dental benefits beginning in plan year 2027. The coalition cited expanding state Medicaid adult dental programs and growing integration of dental benefits in Medicare Advantage plans as evidence that broader inclusion is both feasible and beneficial for patients.
The proposal, if finalized, could limit access to dental coverage for millions of adults enrolled in ACA marketplace plans.
