1511-11628

National: Support to the Center for Medicare Advocacy to work on improving the ability of older people and people with disabilities to access coverage for oral health care across the nation. As part of this project, the Center will advocate for the coverage of medically necessary oral health care by Medicare, while at the same time building on and significantly enhancing current efforts to include a preventive oral health benefit in Medicare. By doing so, the Center will facilitate access to critical health care and reduce unnecessary illness and death as well as the cost associated with higher levels of care and emergency services required when preventive care is not provided. The project will focus on ensuring that oral health is a key component of health policy by working with congressional and executive champions to affirm Medicare's coverage and engaging national and state-based oral health stakeholders to advocate for a preventive oral health benefit. The proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of including an adult dental benefit in publicly funded health coverage and the target that Medicare includes an extensive dental benefit. $40,881 will be used to support staff time and travel associated with implementing this project.