S. 939: Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025

The Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025 seeks to enhance Medicare benefits by including coverage for dental, hearing, and vision services. The main objectives and provisions of the bill include:

Inclusion of New Coverage

The bill will allow Medicare to cover:

• Dental Services: A range of dental treatments and preventive care will be eligible.
• Hearing Services: Coverage will be provided for hearing aids and related services.
• Vision Services: This includes eyeglasses and other vision-related healthcare services.

Funding and Implementation

The legislation allocates significant funds to implement these new benefits:

• A total of $500 million is designated for the implementation of dental, hearing, and vision services between the years 2026 and 2034.
• The bill provides for the establishment of payment structures that include limits and incentives for providers, especially those serving rural areas.

Amendments to Existing Laws

To facilitate the inclusion of these new services, the bill amends the Social Security Act. Key changes include:

• Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids: Eyeglasses will be explicitly classified as covered items, along with hearing aids.
• Competitive Acquisition: The bill mandates that by the year 2030, there will be a competitive acquisition process for hearing aids and eyeglasses to ensure cost-effective procurement of these services.
• Clarified Coverage: The bill clarifies the scope of coverage for various vision services under Medicare.

Impact on Providers

With the new payment structures introduced, there will be specific limits on reimbursements and incentives crafted to support healthcare providers in rural areas. This aspect aims to improve access to dental, hearing, and vision care for beneficiaries in less populated regions, potentially addressing disparities in healthcare access.

Overall, the Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025 aims to significantly broaden the scope of Medicare by incorporating essential health services that can improve the quality of life for many beneficiaries.

Relevant Companies

• EXAS - Exact Sciences Corporation: This company specializes in advanced cancer diagnostics, including some hearing and vision-related testing services, which may see increased demand as more services become covered under Medicare.
• ANSS - Ansys, Inc.: Engaged in engineering simulation software that can play a role in the optimization of healthcare delivery, including those services affected by the bill.
• PHR - PHR Health: Focused on providing healthcare services that may include dental and vision care; the expanded coverage could directly boost their service offerings under Medicare.