A coalition of more than 25 national organizations, mobilized by the American Dental Association, is advocating for the preservation and strengthening of the chief dental officer position within CMS.
In a letter written to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Acting CMS Administrator Stephanie Carlton, the coalition stressed the importance of the chief dental officer role in connecting oral and overall health across federal healthcare programs, according to a March 25 news release from the ADA.
By weakening the position, CMS could face difficulties integrating oral health into overall healthcare strategies, which may lead to higher long-term healthcare costs.
Due to the differences in the way dental and medical care are delivered, eliminating the chief dental officer role could lead to policies being solely developed through the lens of the medical system and not consider the differences in dentistry.
The coalition includes dental specialty associations, primary care advocates and organizations focused on various patient populations, the release said.