The "Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025" significantly broadens Medicare Part B coverage to include essential dental, hearing, and vision services. This expansion aims to improve access to care for millions of beneficiaries, addressing long-standing gaps in the program's benefits. The bill outlines specific services that will be covered, the professionals authorized to provide them, and the payment structures. For dental and oral health care , starting January 1, 2027 (or January 1, 2026, for dentures), Medicare will cover preventive services like oral exams, cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride treatments. It will also include procedures such as fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and dentures, including implants. Payment will generally be 80% of a new fee schedule, with preventive services covered at 100%, and specific limitations apply to the frequency of certain services. The bill also provides incentives for dental providers in rural health professional shortage areas. Regarding hearing care , effective January 1, 2027, Medicare will cover expanded audiology services, including hearing aid examinations and treatment services like aural and vestibular rehabilitation, without requiring a physician's order. The bill also introduces coverage for hearing aids for individuals with moderately severe, severe, or profound hearing loss, limited to one per ear every five years. Qualified audiologists and hearing aid professionals are recognized for providing these services, and payment for hearing aids will be on an assignment-related basis, not exceeding Federal Supply Schedule rates. For vision care , beginning January 1, 2027, Medicare will cover routine eye examinations to determine the refractive state of the eyes, limited to one exam every two years. Additionally, the bill expands coverage for conventional eyeglasses, allowing for one pair every two years, whether or not related to cataract surgery. Payment for eyeglasses will also be subject to limitations and competitive acquisition processes, with deluxe or conventional reading glasses explicitly excluded. To facilitate implementation, the bill appropriates substantial funding to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: $900 million for dental, $370 million for hearing, and $500 million for vision services. A key provision also phases in the impact of the new dental and oral health coverage on Medicare Part B premiums. This phase-in will occur gradually from 2026 through 2030, ensuring that the full cost of dental coverage is not immediately reflected in beneficiary premiums.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Health
Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-939| Senate
| Updated: 3/11/2025
The "Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025" significantly broadens Medicare Part B coverage to include essential dental, hearing, and vision services. This expansion aims to improve access to care for millions of beneficiaries, addressing long-standing gaps in the program's benefits. The bill outlines specific services that will be covered, the professionals authorized to provide them, and the payment structures. For dental and oral health care , starting January 1, 2027 (or January 1, 2026, for dentures), Medicare will cover preventive services like oral exams, cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride treatments. It will also include procedures such as fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and dentures, including implants. Payment will generally be 80% of a new fee schedule, with preventive services covered at 100%, and specific limitations apply to the frequency of certain services. The bill also provides incentives for dental providers in rural health professional shortage areas. Regarding hearing care , effective January 1, 2027, Medicare will cover expanded audiology services, including hearing aid examinations and treatment services like aural and vestibular rehabilitation, without requiring a physician's order. The bill also introduces coverage for hearing aids for individuals with moderately severe, severe, or profound hearing loss, limited to one per ear every five years. Qualified audiologists and hearing aid professionals are recognized for providing these services, and payment for hearing aids will be on an assignment-related basis, not exceeding Federal Supply Schedule rates. For vision care , beginning January 1, 2027, Medicare will cover routine eye examinations to determine the refractive state of the eyes, limited to one exam every two years. Additionally, the bill expands coverage for conventional eyeglasses, allowing for one pair every two years, whether or not related to cataract surgery. Payment for eyeglasses will also be subject to limitations and competitive acquisition processes, with deluxe or conventional reading glasses explicitly excluded. To facilitate implementation, the bill appropriates substantial funding to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: $900 million for dental, $370 million for hearing, and $500 million for vision services. A key provision also phases in the impact of the new dental and oral health coverage on Medicare Part B premiums. This phase-in will occur gradually from 2026 through 2030, ensuring that the full cost of dental coverage is not immediately reflected in beneficiary premiums.