Congress is Fighting Over Medicare Dental. Either Way, Your Reimbursement Sucks.

Congress is Fighting Over Medicare Dental. Either Way, Your Reimbursement Sucks.

The House wants to expand Medicare dental coverage. The Senate wants to slow it down. Both parties are arguing about which scenario costs less and whether dentists get paid enough. Spoiler: We don't get paid enough either way.

If Medicare dental expands, you get new patient volume but at pathetic reimbursement rates. Cleanings at $45. Fillings at $120. That's not healthcare, that's charity.

If it doesn't expand, the pressure stays on private insurance to subsidize older patients who stay on traditional Medicare. Either way, reimbursement doesn't go up. Expect to see more practices dropping Medicare entirely within 18 months. That means less predictable revenue and higher-friction patient interactions when you tell them you don't take their plan.