There is big news in the U.S. House of Representatives! Patients and their families affected by congenital anomalies, including cleft lip/palate, are closer to getting health insurance benefits for the treatments they need, including medically necessary orthodontic treatment.

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) took a big leap in the U.S. House of Representatives this month. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) filed a motion on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, to put ELSA, on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Consensus Calendar because ELSA has more than 290 co-sponsors and has incredible support from both Republicans and Democrats. ELSA garnered the supermajority last September and currently has 304 co-sponsors plus Representative Eshoo. There is a lot of momentum behind ELSA, and with your help now, we can keep that momentum going!

Please lend your voice to this AAO advocacy campaign now so Members of Congress can hear directly from YOU! It’s quick and easy to do: click here to ask your Members of Congress to make ELSA their priority or to sign on as a co-sponsor.

Now that ELSA is on the Consensus Calendar, things are designed to move more quickly. As long as there are bills on the Consensus Calendar, the House is required to consider a bill from the calendar each week they are in session. Right now, only two other bills besides ELSA are on it, and the Speaker of the House could designate ELSA for consideration after being on the consensus calendar for 25 legislative days. The House would then follow normal procedures for review and voting.

States have existing statutes that mandate medical benefits to “people born with a congenital anomaly and resultant missing/defective body parts”. Yet, insurance companies auto-deny claims for medical treatment when the missing body part is TEETH. ELSA closes a coverage gap to ensure that health plans cover medically necessary services related to a patient’s anomaly or birth defect, including any serious dental and oral-related procedures that are necessary to maintaining health and overall function. 

Your voice is important to get ELSA passed in the House and on to the Senate, where there are currently 49 Co-Sponsors!

The AAO has joined a broad coalition of national health care professional and patient advocacy organizations to support this legislation and has been a member-requested priority for the AAO for the past few years. Our Federal advocacy on behalf of our members and their patients is enhanced through AAOPAC relationships. Make your AAOPAC contribution now at AAOPAC.org  and receive your invite to the 2022 Professional Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC, April 5-6. Registration is open and space is limited!