A coalition of 26 organizations is advocating for CMS to appoint a new chief dental officer to strengthen oral health leadership and support policy initiatives.
Six notes:
1. Natalia Chalmers, DDS, PhD, served as CMS’ first chief dental officer from August 2021 until November of this year.
2. The coalition — which includes organizations such as the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Neurology and the National Rural Health Association — wrote a letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, stressing the importance of the chief dental officer position.
3. The organizations warned that policy decisions made without dental expertise can undermine access to care and result in failed opportunities to prevent disease and reduce downstream costs.
4. The coalition said it is worried policy decisions will be made without adequate input from dental industry experts, including those related to Medicare, Medicaid and quality measures.
5. The groups asked CMS to fill the role with someone who has a dental degree as well as clinical, policy and leadership experience within the oral health field.
6. CMS was also asked to keep the chief dental officer position as a senior role within the Office of the Administrator and provide the position with appropriate staff support and cross-center coordination mechanisms.
