Expansion of Medicare’s Dental Benefits Leaves a Lot to Be Desired

An update to the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule expands the coverage of dental benefits for Medicare enrollees, but not by much. A report published by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) listed the new benefits as oral examinations prior to invasive procedures, such as organ transplants (starting 2023), and oral examinations before beginning treatment for head and/or neck cancer (beginning 2024). This lack of coverage within Medicare leads to low utilization of professional dental care among beneficiaries. The KFF stated that nearly 50% of Medicare enrollees did not have a dental visit in 2018. Click here to read more.