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***UPDATED: June 23, 2015*** According to a recent article from the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a repeal of the excise tax on medical devices, which has generated widespread industry opposition since being implemented with the Affordable Care Act in January, 2013. Over 2,700 messages were sent to Congress by ADA members, asking for support in the repeal of the tax. The legislation, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015, was offered by Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and passed with a bipartisan vote of 280-140 on June 18, 2015. The Senate is expected to consider repeal legislation later this year, however the White House has already threatened to veto. The U.S. Supreme Court is also expected to rule by June 30 on the “fate of the larger Affordable Care Act that authorized the tax as a revenue measure.” It has been estimated that the medical device tax increases the cost of dental care by more than $160 million a year, which often falls back on the public who have seen an increase in the overall cost of health care.
***UPDATED: 11/29/2012*** With the reelection of President Obama, the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, will begin on January 1, 2013. The health care overhaul is sure to affect every branch of medicine, including dentistry. While the advantages of the ACA on oral health are obvious, (i.e. federal funds to help promote dentistry in rural areas and better coverage for children), there is another impact that will likely negatively affect the dentistry world. As part of the new law, starting in January, the IRS will implement a 2.3% tax on all new medical and dental devices, equipment, materials, and supplies. The estimated increase of cost is approximately $160 million annually, which many fear will trickle down to consumers. In order to avoid higher fees for treatment, the American Dental Association is currently working with members of congress to repeal this portion of the bill.
The much anticipated verdict is in, and the United States Supreme Court has upheld the cornerstone of Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the individual mandate, in the largest health care reform our country has seen in over 50 years. The law, which requires almost all Americans to carry health insurance coverage, was found to be constitutional by five justices, mainly because they found it to fall within “Congress’ power under the Constitution to lay and collect taxes.” Americans who choose to ignore the law will be subject to a monetary penalty, viewed as a tax, by the majority of Supreme Court justices. The outcome comes as a surprise to many after the hostility aimed at the law was apparent during six hours of oral arguments heard by the court in March.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have several impacts on the dental care industry nationwide. The largest will most definitely involve the children of our country, which have shown a startling increase in premature tooth decay in recent years. The ACA requires insurance providers to offer dental coverage for children, but does not include adults. It will also make federal funds available for national public education programs geared towards preventing oral diseases, which many experts believe to be the key to putting an end to the growing epidemic of oral disease in our country. It also calls for monetary assistance in setting up training programs for alternative dental providers and loan repayments for dental students. This will ideally address the issue of the shortage of dentists in rural America. A key portion of the law also included the extension of Medicaid programs to millions at the state level, however the Supreme Court found that the ACA could not force states to do so, leaving many questioning if states will choose to participate in the expansion.
Many portions of the ACA have already been implemented, and those that have not, are set to be over the next few years. Health care in America is going to be undergoing significant changes in the near future, allowing some 30 million uninsured citizens the access they need to obtain and maintain a healthy life. The Affordable Care Act may not have been what everyone envisioned for reform, but it will certainly force change in the health care industry, which we all can agree was necessary.
