AAE Joins Coalition Urging Congressional Action on the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act 

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE), in partnership with the Organized Dental Coalition (ODC) and more than 70 national health professional and patient advocacy organizations, recently urged Congress to advance the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) (S. 1677/H.R. 3277). Through a coalition letter sent to leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the organizations called on Congress to schedule committee markups and move this bipartisan legislation forward before the end of the 119th Congress. 

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act addresses a longstanding gap in private health insurance coverage for children born with congenital anomalies affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. Although many health plans indicate they cover congenital anomalies, families frequently encounter coverage denials when follow-up or reconstructive care is needed. Medically necessary services—including dental implants, prosthodontic treatment, orthodontics, and other restorative procedures—are often classified as cosmetic or shifted to supplemental dental or vision plans, leaving families responsible for significant out-of-pocket costs. 

For children with craniofacial conditions such as cleft lip and palate, ectodermal dysplasia, hypodontia, and other congenital anomalies, access to timely multidisciplinary care is critical. Treatment often spans several years and involves coordination among medical and dental specialists to restore normal function as a child grows and develops. Delays in care can affect speech, nutrition, breathing, oral function, and overall quality of life while creating unnecessary financial and emotional burdens for families. 

ELSA would help ensure that private group and individual health plans provide coverage for medically necessary services needed to improve, repair, or restore normal function for patients with qualifying congenital anomalies. The legislation is carefully tailored to address functional reconstructive care and does not require coverage for procedures performed solely for cosmetic purposes. Previous Congressional Budget Office analyses have estimated that the legislation would have a minimal impact on insurance premiums while helping families avoid costly delays in treatment. 

The legislation continues to receive strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress and is championed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), along with Representatives Neal Dunn, D.M.D. (R-FL) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA). The broad coalition supporting ELSA reflects a shared commitment among healthcare providers and patient advocacy organizations to ensure children with congenital anomalies have access to medically necessary care without unnecessary insurance barriers. 

The AAE is proud to stand alongside the Organized Dental Coalition and its healthcare partners in advocating for policies that improve patient access to essential oral healthcare. As part of its broader advocacy efforts, the Association will continue working with Congress, coalition partners, and policymakers to advance practical solutions that remove barriers to care, strengthen insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment, and improve outcomes for patients and their families.