ADA Endorses PARTNERS Act to Strengthen Oversight of Medicare Advantage Dental Benefits

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Posted: May 27, 2026

ADA Endorses PARTNERS Act to Strengthen Oversight of Medicare Advantage Dental Benefits

Edited by Dentaltown staff

The American Dental Association has endorsed federal legislation that would let states help enforce Medicare Advantage requirements, including standards governing supplemental dental benefits, provider networks, and reimbursement to dentists.

In a May 26 letter to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., ADA President Richard Rosato and Executive Director Nader Nadershahi backed H.R. 8726, the Protecting Authority and Restoring Tools Necessary for Enforcement by Regulatory States Act, known as the PARTNERS Act. Introduced May 11, the bill would amend the Social Security Act to allow states to enforce Medicare Advantage plan requirements. It was cosponsored by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, and referred to the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees.

The ADA said the measure would address an enforcement gap in Medicare Advantage supplemental dental benefits by empowering states to enforce federal standards that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has not enforced. The association noted that more than 90% of Medicare Advantage plans now offer supplemental dental benefits.

Existing federal rules require Medicare Advantage organizations to maintain adequate provider networks, meet medical loss ratio requirements, communicate plan terms clearly, and follow beneficiary protections. The ADA said some plan sponsors and contracted dental benefit administrators have failed to meet those obligations. The letter cited a case reported to CMS in which a dental benefit administrator delayed between $600,000 and $750,000 in reimbursements to Texas dentists over several months.

The bill would create what the letter called “a parallel enforcement pathway,” enabling state regulators to investigate network adequacy, contracting, and medical loss ratio compliance while coordinating with CMS.

The letter was signed by Rosato and Nadershahi, who tied the proposal to the rapid growth of Medicare Advantage supplemental dental benefits over the past five years. The ADA said it looks forward to working with Downing on dental benefits in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the commercial insurance market.

Sources:
GovInfo, H.R. 8726, introduced May 11, 2026: govinfo.gov/BILLS-119hr8726ih
ADA News, “ADA supports PARTNERS Act aimed at strengthening oversight of Medicare Advantage dental benefits,” May 27, 2026: adanews.ada.org/ada-supports-partners-act
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