Center for Medicare Advocacy
PO Box 350
Willimantic, CT 06226
United States
The Center for Medicare Advocacy’s (CMA) mission is to advance access to comprehensive Medicare coverage, health equity, and quality health care for older people and people with disabilities by providing exceptional legal analysis, education, and advocacy.
CMA has been a partner of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health since 2015, continually advocating for the expansion of Medicare to include dental coverage. Within the last three grant years, CareQuest Institute funding has supported advocacy for extensive dental benefits in Medicare Part B, and collaboration with CMS to expand the definition and coverage of medically necessary dental services in Medicare.
With funding from this grant, CMA will continue its ongoing oral health work in advancing: (1) Medicare’s medically necessary oral health coverage policy, (2) a comprehensive oral health benefit in Part B, and (3) equitable access to covered dental services through Medicare Advantage (MA) and Dual-Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs).
To expand Medicare coverage for dental care integral to medical treatments, CMA will be involved in submitting several clinical nominations by February 10, to be considered by CMS for inclusion as part of its CY2025 rulemaking. CMA will assist in strategy, drafting, revising, and engaging stakeholders. Later, CMA will attend meetings with CMS and other influential parties to support the nominations and help produce materials to assist interested parties wishing to submit public comments. Once the final rule is issued, CMA will develop resources to apprise stakeholders of any approved payment expansion.
CMA’s ongoing work applies to the larger change-strategy of creating the conditions for a comprehensive dental benefit in the Medicare program. In 2024, CMA will continue leveraging opportunities to amplify the importance of enacting a comprehensive dental benefit in Medicare.
Throughout its work, CMA will seek the input of community partners to better ensure that its oral health policy work aligns with its values for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
This request represents 4% of the organization’s overall budget. Budgeted line items include staff time (including policy attorneys and the addition of 12% of a Development Director’s salary), legal assistance, and indirect expenses.