CMS Announces First-ever Chief Dental Officer
On August 30, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Dr. Natalia Chalmers, D.D.S., would be its first-ever Chief Dental Officer (CDO) in the Office of the Administrator.
In the corresponding press release, CMS said that “In her role as CMS’s chief dental officer, Dr. Chalmers will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to care for the whole person, a key to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity. Dr. Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate who brings more than 20 years of clinical, research, industry, and regulatory experience to CMS. Previously, Dr. Natalia Chalmers served as a Dental Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration.”
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD appreciates that CMS has finally filled the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) role. Having a CDO at CMS has been a longtime priority for AGD and its allies in organized dentistry. AGD hopes that Dr. Chalmers will actively improve and reform oral health efforts and programs through CMS, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
In the corresponding press release, CMS said that “In her role as CMS’s chief dental officer, Dr. Chalmers will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to care for the whole person, a key to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity. Dr. Chalmers is a board-certified pediatric dentist, oral health policy expert, and public health advocate who brings more than 20 years of clinical, research, industry, and regulatory experience to CMS. Previously, Dr. Natalia Chalmers served as a Dental Officer at the US Food and Drug Administration.”
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD appreciates that CMS has finally filled the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) role. Having a CDO at CMS has been a longtime priority for AGD and its allies in organized dentistry. AGD hopes that Dr. Chalmers will actively improve and reform oral health efforts and programs through CMS, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).