A new study published in JAMA Network Open projects that pediatric Medicaid coverage losses could lead to worsening oral health outcomes and higher health care costs, reinforcing longstanding concerns from organized dentistry about the consequences of disruptions in dental coverage for vulnerable populations.
The study, “Projected Oral Health Outcomes and Costs Associated With Pediatric Medicaid Disenrollment,” examined the potential oral health impact of Medicaid coverage reductions under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Using a microsimulation model based on nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers projected that Medicaid disenrollment among children could result in nearly 96,000 additional cases of dental caries and $86.5 million in added health care costs over a 10-year period.