On September 13, a coalition of leading dental organizations sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urging CMS to increase access to dental surgeries in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The letter was signed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The coalition is supporting a proposed rule that would reclassify the CPT code generally used to report dental procedures performed in hospital outpatient settings into the Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) that includes other dental procedures. The proposed rule would increase access to dental surgeries in hospital operating rooms; however, the coalition is urging CMS to modify the rule so that it also applies to ASCs. The letter explains: “Without access to ASCs, dentists are concerned that the current crisis in [operating room] access for children, the disabled and those with special needs as well as those without timely access to a hospital due to geographic limitations will continue.”

A summary of the proposal was published on the ADA website.