The average Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursements as a percentage of average dentist charges is nearly 10% higher for child dental services than adult services, according to data from the American Dental Association.
The average reimbursement percentage in 2024 for child dental services was 39.2%, compared to 29.9% for adult dental services.
While every state offers at least some reimbursement for child dental services, nine states did not offer any adult dental benefits or were emergency care only.
The organization created a weighted average index across 14 different procedures and compared the Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement amount to the average dentist charges.
Here is the Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement as a percentage of dentist charges for child and adult dental services in every state and Washington, D.C.:
Alabama
Child services: 46.4%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Alaska
Child services: 51.9%
Adult services: 44.5%
Arizona
Child services: 40.8%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Arkansas
Child services: 36.1%
Adult services: 31.2%
California
Child services: 36.9%
Adult services: 41.4%
Colorado
Child services: 45%
Adult services: 42.8%
Connecticut
Child services: 47%
Adult services: 29.9%
Delaware
Child services: 80.1%
Adult services: 78%
District of Columbia
Child services: 47.8%
Adult services: 39.3%
Florida
Child services: 22.2%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Georgia
Child services: 39.8%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Hawaii
Child services: 49.7%
Adult services: 44.1%
Idaho
Child services: 34.7%
Adult services: 33.9%
Illinois
Child services: 23.9%
Adult services: 26.6%
Indiana
Child services: 49.7%
Adult services: 49.6%
Iowa
Child services: 31.1%
Adult services: 29.9%
Kansas
Child services: 35.3%
Adult services: 38.4%
Kentucky
Child services: 43.3%
Adult services: 41.4%
Louisiana
Child services: 59.1%
Adult services: 56.5%
Maine
Child services: 47%
Adult services: 49.4%
Maryland
Child services: 47.2%
Adult services: 45.5%
Massachusetts
Child services: 44.6%
Adult services: 33.9%
Michigan
Child services: 52%
Adult services: 51.7%
Minnesota
Child services: 32.3%
Adult services: 33.1%
Mississippi
Child services: 50.9%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Missouri
Child services: 59.3%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Montana
Child services: 51.3%
Adult services: 52.3%
Nebraska
Child services: 37.7%
Adult services: 35.8%
Nevada
Child services: 34.2%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
New Hampshire
Child services: 42%
Adult services: 11.6%
New Jersey
Child services: 50%
Adult services: 12.2%
New Mexico
Child services: 34.7%
Adult services: 36%
New York
Child services: 34%
Adult services: 26.1%
North Carolina
Child services: 34.3%
Adult services: 36.3%
North Dakota
Child services: 55.3%
Adult services: 53.7%
Ohio
Child services: 53.3%
Adult services: 50%
Oklahoma
Child services: 38%
Adult services: 45.2%
Oregon
Child services: 26.9%
Adult services: 25.5%
Pennsylvania
Child services: 30.9%
Adult services: 28.2%
Rhode Island
Child services: 40.2%
Adult services: 38.2%
South Carolina
Child services: 47.2%
Adult services: 37.6%
South Dakota
Child services: 64.6%
Adult services: 63.4%
Tennessee
Child services: 41.8%
Adult services: 39.6%
Texas
Child services: 42.1%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Utah
Child services: 42.8%
Adult services: No benefit or emergency only
Vermont
Child services: 57.6%
Adult services: 59%
Virginia
Child services: 46.2%
Adult services: 45.4%
Washington
Child services: 30.7%
Adult services: 39.4%
West Virginia
Child services: 56.8%
Adult services: 49%
Wisconsin
Child services: 30.7%
Adult services: 29.1%
Wyoming
Child services: 52%
Adult services: 37.1%