The 89th Texas legislative session has brought increased attention to policy solutions addressing the non-medical drivers of health (NMDOH) that shape health outcomes across the state. This shift reflects growing recognition that factors like food, housing, and transportation play a … Read More
CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, is pushing for major reforms to the Medicaid program, according to comments he made May 6 at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference, per Fox Business. Dr. Oz told the news outlet that there is … Read More
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in a Thursday press release that he has a new investigative target: Toothpaste. Specifically, he said his office sent civil investigative demands to toothpaste manufacturers Colgate-Palmolive Company and Proctor & Gamble … Read More
Attorney General Ken Paxton has sent Civil Investigative Demands (“CIDs”) to Colgate-Palmolive Company (“Colgate”) and Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing Co. (“Proctor & Gamble”)—which advertises and sells “Crest” branded fluoride toothpaste—for marketing toothpaste products to parents and children in ways that … Read More
Five Texas dental homes are proud to announce that they will join parent company, Benevis, a leading dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization committed to providing quality care to underserved communities, for its 10th annual Sharing Smiles Day on Sunday, … Read More
AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas Health and Human Services Commission late Wednesday began notifying another 33,529 recipients of state benefits that their private information had been improperly accessed. The latest announcement comes as the state agency continues to investigate a … Read More
Maine saw the largest increase in the average annual wage for dental assistants from 2023 to 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the U.S., the average pay for dental assistants increased $1,510 from 2023 to … Read More
The Florida legislature has sent a bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban water fluoridation in the state. Senate Bill 700, dubbed the “Florida Farm Bill,” aims to support the state’s agriculture and agricultural workers with a number of … Read More
The American Dental Association (ADA) strongly opposes the dangerously irresponsible comments made by Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham about community water fluoridation. “As doctors, we pledge to do no harm. It is gravely irresponsible that a physician who has … Read More
Align Technology has agreed to pay $31 million to settle allegations that it engaged in anticompetitive conduct that drove up the prices of SmileDirectClub aligners. Five notes: 1. In 2021, Align Technology was accused of participating in anticompetitive conduct that … Read More
The Louisiana Senate Committee on Health and Welfare passed a bill that would prohibit fluoride from being added to public drinking water, according to an April 24 report from KLFY. Senate Bill 2 repeals the Louisiana Department of Health’s water … Read More
The American Dental Association has urged Congress to support tax policies that support small businesses and to preserve adult Medicaid dental benefits as lawmakers continue with the budget reconciliation process. ADA President Brett Kessler, DDS, and Interim Executive Director Elizabeth … Read More
News Release Texas Health and Human Services Commission Cecile Erwin YoungHHS Executive Commissioner April 25, 2025 Jennifer Ruffcorn, 512-424-6951 PressOffice@hhs.texas.gov AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission today released data showing that in November 2024, Texas hospitals incurred … Read More
LA GRANGE, Texas (Nexstar) — Right on Highway 77, a few miles from downtown La Grange, sits a hospital that once provided emergency services and orthopedic surgery. Now, the St. Mark’s Medical Center is an empty building with a sign … Read More
EL PASO, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / April 24, 2025 / In the flatlands of North Texas, where cattle outnumber dentists and the nearest clinic may be hours away, Georgia Hejny charted an unlikely course. Georgia Hejny Dental student Georgia … Read More
Over the objections of dentists, a Louisiana Senate committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would set an almost impossibly high bar for public systems to add fluoride to their drinking water supply. In its original state, Senate Bill 2 by … Read More
More than a dozen states have introduced legislation to implement a dental loss ratio so far this year. Overall, 23 states have filed dental loss ratio bills since the start of 2023, according to an April 22 news release from the American … Read More
State lawmakers are addressing a number of challenges facing Texans and the state economy, including many that don’t get the media coverage they deserve, such as the worsening dental care crisis. Simply put, Texas does not have enough dentists and … Read More
Dive Brief: Conduent Inc. warned in an April 14 regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that a “significant” number of people had their personal data stolen in a January cyberattack that affected a limited number of the company’s … Read More
On weekdays, a colorfully painted dental van pulls into local elementary schools, transforming into a mobile clinic where children receive cleanings, x-rays and fillings — often for the first time. Behind the scenes, the Texas Pre-Dental Society fundraises year-round to … Read More
Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, a nationally recognized leader in dental research and education, has been named dean of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. His appointment is effective May 1, 2025, as announced by Francisco G. Cigarroa, … Read More
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®) and the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH) released a joint position statement today advocating for the delivery of dental hygiene care exclusively by qualified professionals who have completed accredited educational programs and obtained … Read More
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed LB 148 into law, inducting the state into the Interstate Dentist and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact. The interstate compact improves license portability for dentists and dental hygienists, allowing dental professionals to practice in all participating states without … Read More
Renewed Mission. Smarter Systems. Deeper Impact. Altius Dental is excited to announce its return to private ownership, now under the leadership of two highly experienced Prosthodontists: Dr. Gunjan Dhir and Dr. Gaurav Puri. This strategic move represents more than a … Read More
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Delta Dental Institute reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the future of the oral health workforce with its announcement that applications are now being taken for the Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund. This … Read More
The ADA is signing onto an April 15 joint letter affirming the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation amid federal efforts to cease the practice. Spearheaded by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the letter consists of health professionals, … Read More
DES Moines, Iowa — Iowa senators on Monday moved forward with a bill that would require 80% of students admitted to the University of Iowa’s medicine and dentistry programs to have ties to Iowa. Republicans are hoping this will help … Read More
The Nusenda Sun City Smiles Day, hosted by the Hunt School of Dental Medicine and Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic, is an initiative sponsored by the Nusenda Foundation. The event was held on Thursday, April 10, at the Texas … Read More
House Republicans, in a 216-214 vote, have approved the Senate’s fiscal 2025 budget blueprint, paving the way for key portions of President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda — including potential sweeping changes to Medicaid. The budget resolution’s passage marks a … Read More
The ADA is signing onto a coalition letter supporting legislation that would allow certain full-time dental faculty members to exclude the amount of their loan forgiveness from federal income taxes. The Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act, H.R. 1758 and S. … Read More
In a recent audit, the OIG discovered that a dental management organization submitted financial statistical reports (FSRs) in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 that could erroneously increase the payment per client made by Texas Medicaid. FSRs, among other information, are … Read More
In accordance with House Bill 4611, provisions of Texas Government Code Chapter 531 related to the Office of Inspector General will be transferred to Texas Government Code Chapter 544. The change was mandated by the legislature as part of an … Read More
Dentists operating mobile clinics to serve rural residents are making headlines. One of them is Dr. Chris Bryant of B.C., who has spent the past three decades working primarily out of a modest-sized vehicle that looks like a regular bus … Read More
From advancing legislation to new modifier codes, here are 10 updates to know impacting dental Medicaid and Medicare that Becker’s reported on in the first quarter of 2025: The orthodontic scoring tool within the Illinois Medicaid program updated its rules … Read More
The ADA is pushing for the exemption of medical and dental supplies, equipment and devices from tariffs due to concerns about rising costs and supply chain disruptions. In an April 1 coalition letter spearheaded by the Health Industry Distributors Association, … Read More
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s entire Division of Oral Health was gutted April 1, amid the Trump administration’s efforts to majorly restructure federal health agencies. This comes after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced March … Read More
Most states are implementing strategies to increase the number of automatic renewals for Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a survey from KFF. The research organization published its annual survey of state Medicaid directors April 1. Every state except Florida responded to … Read More
Changes may be coming to your local dental office So what does this really mean? Instead of a dental hygienist cleaning your teeth, it could now be a dental assistant under this newly signed bill. “I think more access sounds … Read More
2025 is poised to be a very consequential year for Texas public policy. Several major reforms favored by Governor Greg Abbott (R) that did not pass in prior sessions appear destined to reach his desk this session, including bills making … Read More
The orthodontic scoring tool within the Illinois Medicaid program has updated its rules and scoring criteria. The update is in part due to the Illinois State Dental Society’s work during the 2024 legislative session to secure $12 million in funding … Read More
