The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notified state Medicaid directors on July 22, urging them to restrict or end Medicaid coverage for dental amalgam procedure codes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The move follows a February decision by the Indian Health Service to end amalgam use in its facilities by 2027, and it aligns with a global commitment under the Minamata Convention on mercury to phase out dental amalgam by 2034.
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) published a statement, noting that a Medicaid amalgam phaseout could increase general dentists' reliance on composite resin restorations, which can be more time-consuming and costly to place.
The AGD added that dentists could face greater financial and operational challenges when treating Medicaid patients, particularly for posterior teeth, where amalgam has historically been the more durable and cost-effective restorative option.
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