S. 5089

119 S5089 IS: Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-07-22
 text/xml
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5089  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 22, 2026   Ms. Alsobrooks  (for herself,  Mr. Blumenthal , and  Mr. Merkley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Finance    A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of dental services under the Medicare program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026  .
2.
Coverage of dental services under the Medicare program
(a)
Coverage
Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (JJ), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (KK), by adding  and  at the end; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(LL)
dental and oral health services (as defined in subsection (ooo));
 .
(b)
Dental and oral health services defined
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(ooo)
Dental and oral Health Services
The term  dental and oral health services  means services (as defined by the Secretary) that are necessary to prevent disease and promote oral health, restore oral structures to health and function, reduce oral pain, and treat emergency conditions, including—
(1)
routine diagnostic and preventive care such as dental cleanings, exams, and x-rays;
(2)
basic dental services such as fillings and extractions;
(3)
major dental services such as root canals, crowns, and dentures;
(4)
emergency dental care; and
(5)
other necessary services related to dental and oral health (as defined by the Secretary).
 .
(c)
Coverage of routine diagnostic and preventive care as a preventive service
Section 1861(ddd)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ddd)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(D)
Dental and oral health services described in paragraph (1) of subsection (ooo), relating to routine diagnostic and preventive care.
 .
(d)
Payment; coinsurance; and limitations
(1)
In general
Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1) ) is amended—
(A)
by striking  and  before  (HH) ; and
(B)
by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following:  and (II) with respect to dental and oral health services (as defined in section 1861(ooo), other than those services described in paragraph (1) of such section), the amount paid shall be the payment amount specified under section 1834(aa). .
(2)
Payment and limits specified
Section 1834 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(bb)
Payment and limits for dental and oral health services
(1)
In general
The payment amount under this part for dental and oral health services (as defined in section 1861(ooo), other than those services described in paragraph (1) of such section) shall be, subject to paragraph (3), the applicable percentage (specified in paragraph (2)) of the lesser of the actual charge for the services or the amount determined under the payment basis determined under section 1848.
(2)
Applicable percentage
(A)
In general
For purposes of paragraph (1), subject to subparagraph (B), the applicable percentage specified in this paragraph is—
(i)
for the first year beginning at least 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, 0 percent;
(ii)
for the year following the year specified in subparagraph (A) and each subsequent year through the seventh year following the year specified in subparagraph (A), the applicable percent specified in this paragraph for the previous year increased by 10 percentage points; and
(iii)
for the eighth year following the year specified in subparagraph (A) and each subsequent year, 80 percent.
(B)
Special rule for certain low-income individuals
For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to dental and oral health services described in such paragraph that are furnished to an individual who is a subsidy eligible individual (as defined in section 1860D–14(a)(3)), or who would be a subsidy eligible individual if the individual were enrolled in a prescription drug plan or an MA–PD plan under part D, for the first year beginning at least 6 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection and each subsequent year, the applicable percent specified in this paragraph is 80 percent.
(3)
Limitations and Secretarial authority
(A)
Frequency
With respect to dental and oral health services that are—
(i)
routine dental cleanings, payment may be made under this part for only 2 such cleanings during a 12-month period; and
(ii)
routine exams, payment may be made under this part for only 2 such exams during a 12-month period.
(B)
Secretarial authority
(i)
Authority to apply additional limitations
The Secretary may apply such other reasonable limitations on the extent to which dental and oral services are covered under this part, including through application of a prior authorization requirement.
(ii)
Authority to modify coverage
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, if the Secretary determines appropriate, the Secretary may modify the coverage under this part of dental and oral health services to the extent that such modification is consistent with the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
(iii)
Authority to waive frequency limitations
The Secretary may waive any frequency limitation or other limitation as described in this paragraph for an individual (or category of individuals) as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
 .
(e)
Payment under physician fee schedule
Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3) ) is amended by striking  risk assessment),  and inserting  risk assessment), (2)(LL), .
(f)
Dental prostheses
(1)
In general
Section 1861(s)(8) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(8) ) is amended—
(A)
by striking  (other than dental)  and inserting  (including dental) ; and
(B)
by striking  internal body .
(2)
Special payment rules
Section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(24)
Payment and limits for dental prostheses
(A)
In general
The payment amount under this part for dental prostheses shall be, subject to subparagraph (C), the applicable percent (specified in subparagraph (B)) of the amount otherwise payable for such dental prostheses under this section.
(B)
Applicable percent
(i)
In general
For purposes of subparagraph (A), subject to clause (ii), the applicable percent specified in this subparagraph is—
(I)
for the first year beginning at least 6 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, 0 percent;
(II)
for the year following the year specified in clause (i) and each subsequent year through the seventh year following the year specified in clause (i), the applicable percent specified in this subparagraph for the previous year increased by 10 percentage points; and
(III)
for the eighth year following the year specified in clause (i) and each subsequent year, 80 percent.
(ii)
Special rule for certain low-income individuals
For purposes of subparagraph (A), with respect to dental prostheses furnished to an individual who is a subsidy eligible individual (as defined in section 1860D–14(a)(3)), or who would be a subsidy eligible individual if the individual were enrolled in a prescription drug plan or an MA–PD plan under part D, for the first year beginning at least 6 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and each subsequent year, the applicable percent specified in this subparagraph is 80 percent.
(C)
Limitations and Secretarial authority
(i)
In general
Payment may be made under this part for an individual for—
(I)
not more than 1 full upper and 1 full lower dental prostheses once every 5 years; and
(II)
not more than 1 partial upper dental prostheses and 1 partial lower dental prostheses once every 5 years.
(ii)
Secretarial authority
(I)
Authority to apply additional limitations
The Secretary may apply such other reasonable limitations on the extent to which dental prostheses are covered under this part, including through application of a prior authorization requirement.
(II)
Authority to modify coverage
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, if the Secretary determines appropriate, the Secretary may modify the coverage under this part of dental prostheses to the extent that such modification is consistent with the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
(III)
Authority to waive frequency limitations
The Secretary may waive any frequency limitation or other limitation as described in this subparagraph for an individual (or category of individuals) as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
 .
(g)
Repeal of ground for exclusion
Section 1862(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y ) is amended by striking paragraph (12).
(h)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2028.
3.
Increased FMAP for additional expenditures for medicare cost-sharing for dental and oral health services
Section 1905 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b), by striking  and (ii)  and inserting  (ii), and (ll) ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(ll)
Increased FMAP for additional expenditures for medicare cost-Sharing for dental and oral health services
Notwithstanding subsection (b), with respect to the portion of the amounts expended by a State for medical assistance for medicare cost-sharing (as defined in subsection (p)(3)) for qualified medicare beneficiaries described in subsection (p)(1) that is attributable to the coverage under part B of title XVIII of dental and oral health services (as defined in section 1861(ooo)), as determined by the Secretary, the Federal medical assistance percentage for a State that is one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia shall be equal to 100 percent.
 .
4.
Preventive Services Taskforce
(a)
In general
Section 915(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 299b–4(a)(1) ) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting  , including at least 1 oral health professional  after  expertise .
(b)
Effective date
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect January 1, 2028.