MADISON — This morning, Wisconsin State Treasurer and candidate for U.S. Senate Sarah Godlewski toured Community Smiles Dental Clinic in Waukesha, a nonprofit providing crucial dental care to low-income children, pregnant women, special needs patients, and adults in the Greater Milwaukee area. While Washington dysfunction holds up legislation that would expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing, Godlewski jumped into the fight and called on Senators from both parties to protect this crucial provision and keep it off the chopping block.

In 2019, about half of Medicare beneficiaries did not have any form of dental coverage, so they often end up forgoing annual exams and necessary dental procedures due to the costs. A lack of proper oral care can make chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease worse and lead to costly complications.

“With the House, Senate, and White House, Democrats have the chance to pass meaningful legislation that can improve the lives and wellbeing of millions by expanding Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing. Unfortunately, it’s not just Mitch McConnell and Ron Johnson standing in our way of improving people’s lives, but it’s also Democrats like Senators Sinema and Manchin,” said State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski. “The American people put Democrats in charge to get big, important things done–they don’t care about how we do it, they just want it done. If we don’t pass it now, I will fight hard to make sure we do when I get to the Senate.”

In 2019, the House of Representatives passed legislation to extend Medicare coverage for seniors to include dental, vision, and hearing only to have Mitch McConnell, Ron Johnson, and the Republicans kill it in the Senate.

Expanding Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing is popular with Americans across the political spectrum.

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