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A Defining Step Toward Whole-Person Health

In the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, CMS introduced a new MIPS Improvement Activity that recognizes and rewards primary care clinicians for incorporating oral health risk assessment, counseling, and referral into routine care.

This milestone—years in the making—creates a practical pathway for medical–dental integration, advances prevention, and reflects decades of advocacy from the Santa Fe Group (SFG), the Coalition for Oral Health Policy (COHP), and partners nationwide.

MUST READS

Debt, Diversity, and Dentistry: How Federal Loan Caps Could Reshape Our Workforce

Implementing federal student loan limit changes through U.S. Department of Education negotiated rulemaking and what these shifts could mean for equity, access, and pathways into public health dentistry.

IADR Welcomes the Adoption of the UN Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health

The International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR) welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration of the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being.

Senate Finance Committee Report on Potential Net Impact on Rural Communities

An independent analysis highlights how proposed federal health cuts could significantly strain rural hospitals and communities already facing limited access to care.

How Dental Benefits Can Help Manage Diabetes

Along today's benefits landscape, forward-thinking brokers are partnering with dental insurance companies to highlight the critical connection between oral health and systemic conditions like diabetes.

ADA Seeks Representative for American Medical Association Advisory Committee

The American Dental Association is seeking a representative to serve on an American Medical Association advisory committee that provides input on the value of medical procedures to help inform Medicare payment calculations.

AROUND THE WORLD

Dentists Warn of Difficulties in Accessing Care

The Portuguese Association of Public Service Dentists (APOMED) has warned that the lack of a specific career path hinders the hiring of professionals for health care centres, exacerbating difficulties in accessing dentistry.

Length: 01:01:00

Listen to this webinar exploring medical–dental integration in family medicine, with practical examples of incorporating oral health into primary care training and practice.

REASON TO SMILE

Patient Success Stories: How Advanced Dental Care Is Transforming Lives

Today’s dental care goes beyond treating teeth; it focuses on restoring function, comfort, and confidence. Read inspiring patient success stories that highlight how modern dental treatments are transforming lives, offering hope and encouragement to patients and families navigating their own oral health journeys.