The American Dental Association says there needs to be more data about Medicare Advantage dental benefits.
In comments submitted Feb. 13 to CMS on the agency's proposed MA rule changes for 2024, ADA President George Shepley, DDS, and Executive Director Raymond Cohlmia, DDS, urged the agency to collect more data on the types of dental benefits available and used by MA beneficiaries.
According to Kaiser Family Foundation, 96 percent of Medicare Advantage plans offer some kind of dental benefit. What these benefits include can vary widely from plan to plan, the ADA said.
"The ADA does not have data to quantify how many enrollees are getting the different types of dental benefits, and requests that CMS collect that data," Dr. Shepley and Dr. Cohlmia wrote.
The association also supports more oversight of Medicare Advantage marketing. CMS has signaled it intends to crack down further on misleading advertisements.
These advertisements often include misleading information about dental benefits, the ADA said.
"Beneficiaries need and deserve transparency regarding dental benefits and plan design for their MA plan, including the total amount of the benefit per year, the services covered, frequency limitations, and more," Dr. Shepley and Dr. Cohlmia wrote.