Coalition Presses Congress on Bill Covering Orthodontics for Congenital Anomalies

Edited by Orthotown staff

The American Association of Endodontists has joined the Organized Dental Coalition and more than 70 national health professional and patient advocacy organizations in urging Congress to advance the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, which would require private health plans to cover orthodontic and other reconstructive treatment for patients with congenital anomalies, the AAE said Aug. 27.

ELSA, S. 1677 and H.R. 3277, would require private group and individual health plans to cover medically necessary services that improve, repair, or restore normal function for patients with qualifying congenital anomalies. Orthodontics is named alongside dental implants, prosthodontic treatment, and other restorative procedures.

Conditions named in the announcement include cleft lip and palate, ectodermal dysplasia, and hypodontia.

The AAE said the legislation is tailored to functional reconstructive care and does not require coverage of procedures performed solely for cosmetic purposes, a distinction that goes to how insurers currently classify this treatment.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., sponsors the Senate version, which drew 12 cosponsors and was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., sponsors the House version, which drew 22 cosponsors and was referred to the committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means. The AAE also credited Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash. Both bills were introduced May 8, 2025.

In a separate announcement the same day, the AAE, the ADA, and the Organized Dental Coalition backed the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act. That measure would prohibit lifetime and annual dollar limits on dental benefits under the Children’s Health Insurance Program and require dental-only wraparound coverage for certain children whose health plans provide inadequate dental benefits. Its companion versions, S. 5088 and H.R. 9833, were introduced July 22 by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif.

The AAE said benefit caps can leave children without coverage in the middle of treatment, leading families to delay care, pay out of pocket, or forgo treatment.

Neither measure has become law. Both remain in committee.

Sources:
American Association of Endodontists, “AAE Joins Coalition Urging Congressional Action on the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act,” Aug. 27, 2026: aae.org/specialty/aae-joins-coalition-elsa
Congress.gov, S. 1677, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act: congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1677
Congress.gov, H.R. 3277, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act: congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3277
American Association of Endodontists, “AAE Supports Legislation to Strengthen Children’s Dental Coverage Through CHIP,” Aug. 27, 2026: aae.org/specialty/aae-supports-legislation-chip
U.S. Government Publishing Office, S. 1677 introduced Senate text, May 8, 2025: govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119s1677is
U.S. Government Publishing Office, H.R. 3277 introduced House text, May 8, 2025: govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr3277ih