AAE Advocates for Patients’ Access to Affordable Oral Health Care Products 

AAE joined forces with a broad coalition of dental organizations and patient advocacy groups in sending a letter of support to Capitol Hill for bipartisan legislation that would allow Americans to use their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for over-the-counter oral care products. This proposed legislation is crucial for the dental community as it highlights the need to enhance Americans’ access to oral health care and underscores its connection to improved overall health outcomes.

Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Jeff Van Drew, DMD (R-NJ), and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan bill, Oral Health Products Inclusion Act, which would allow Americans to pay for over-the-counter oral health products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and more, without taxation. Currently, federal law allows consumers to use pre-tax dollars under HSAs and FSAs to pay for over-the-counter medical and feminine products. More than 60 million consumers already use FSAs and HSAs to save on eligible healthcare expenses, and many endodontic patients use these accounts to purchase over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs following their procedures. If passed, this legislation would further improve patients’ health outcomes by allowing them to spend their hard-earned dollars on oral health products without taxation by the government.

The AAE is proud to support this legislation alongside the greater dental community and believes this legislation continues to emphasize to Congress the critical importance of oral health and its inextricable link to overall health.