The American Dental Association released a report showing that a pilot program increased dentist participation in Medicaid and expanded access to oral health care for beneficiaries, according to a June 16 news release from the ADA.
As of 2024, about 40% of dentists in the U.S. participate in the Medicaid and CHIP programs, according to ADA data.
Here are 10 things to know:
1.The program, which began in 2023, included Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota
2.The six states were selected because of recent expansions to Medicaid dental benefits, increased reimbursement rates or implemented other changes to improve access to care. The state coalitions shared data, discussed challenges and adapted successful strategies from other states.
3.The report found that reimbursement increases work best when paired with provider outreach and education.
Source: 10 things to know about the ADA’s successful pilot Medicaid program / Becker’s Dental