Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors
SeniorOralHealth

On September 29-30, 2016, the Santa Fe Group convened a Salon titled Expanding Oral Healthcare for America’s Seniors. Attendees reviewed evidence about the need for dental coverage for seniors and discussed what a Medicare benefits package could entail. The rationale, costs, and benefits of improved oral healthcare access for seniors made a compelling case for expanding Medicare to include dental benefits.
2016 SFG Salon Agenda & Links to Presentations
- Welcome, Goals and Dedication
Michael Alfano, President, Santa Fe Group - Greetings
Carol Summerhays, President, American Dental Association - Perspective
Lynn Mouden, Chief Dental Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Keynote Address
Terry Fulmer, President, John A. Hartford Foundation - Senior Oral Healthcare: The Need
- Moderators: Claude Earl Fox and Dushanka Kleinman
- Inequities in Oral Health for America’s Seniors – Judith Jones
- Access to Oral Care and the Impact of Retirement – Richard Manski
- Chairside Collision: Oral and Systemic Health, Impact at the Patient Level – Elisa M. Chávez
- Senior Oral Healthcare: The Value Proposition
- Moderators: Stephen N. Abel and Raul Garcia
- Oral Conditions and Systemic Health – Ira Lamster
- Oral Health and Quality of Life – Jed Jacobsen
- Oral Health and Medical Care Costs and Utilization – Marko Vujicic
- Senior Oral Healthcare: The Benefit
- Moderators: Nicholas G. Mosca, and Steven W. Kess
- Political History of Medicare: Lessons for Benefits Development – Jonathan Oberlander
- Report of the SFG/OHA Benefits Analysis Committee – Judith Jones
- How Can We Optimize the Benefit Options? – Jeff Chaffin
- Senior Oral Healthcare: The Consumer
- Moderators: Beth Truett and Fotinos S. Panagakos
- What Are Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors on Oral Heathcare? – Peter Mitchell
- Group Discussions and Deliberations
- Moderators: Claude Earl Fox and Raul Garcia
- Meeting Summary and Next Steps - Michael Alfano
Perspectives From National Leaders
National oral health leaders and advocates speak about the current and future policy, practice and funding opportunities to expand Medicare benefits to include oral health care for America’s seniors.
Teresa A. Dolan
Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer
Dentsply Sirona
R. Bruce Donoff
Dean
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Mary Foley
Executive Director
Medicaid Medicare CHIP Dental Services Association
Christopher Fox
Executive Director
American Association for Dental Research
Joan Gluch
Associate Dean for Academic Policies
Penn School of Dental Medicine
Linda Niessen
Dean & Professor
NSU College Of Dental Medicine
Fotinos Panagakos
Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs
Geistlich Pharma North America
Gary Price
Executive Director
Dental Trade Alliance
Harold Slavkin
Founding Member
The Santa Fe Group
Beth Truett
Executive Director
Oral Health America
Richard Valachovic
Executive Director
American Dental Education Association
Marko Vujicic
Chief Economist
Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association
Reactions From Salon Attendees
Ann Battrell
CEO
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Eric Berger
Principal
Liberty Partners Group
Marcia Brand
Executive Director
National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health
Mary Lee Conicella
Chief Dental Officer
Aetna
Christopher Fox
Executive Director
American Association of Dental Research
Paul Glassman
Director Advanced General Dentistry Program
University of the Pacific
Judith Haber
Ursela Springer Leadership Professor
NYU College of Nursing
Michael Helgenson
CEO
Apple Tree Dental
Kenneth S. Kornman
Co-Founder, President, CSO & Secretary
Interleukin Genetics, Inc.
Ira Lamster
Dean Emeritus
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
David A. Lipschutz
Managing Attorney
Center for Medicare Advocacy
Mark Nehring
Chair, Department of Public Health and Community Service
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Linda Niessen
Dean & Professor
NSU College Of Dental Medicine
Gary Price
Executive Director
Dental Trade Alliance
Stacy Sanders
Policy Director
Medicare Rights Center
Beth Truett
Executive Director
Oral Health America
Patrick Willard
Senior Director of State and National Strategic Partnerships
Families USA
Marko Vujicic
Chief Economist, Health Policy Institute
American Dental Association
Reports & Papers