A group of dental professionals in Nebraska held a press conference March 5 to voice their support for a bill that would establish a medical loss ratio for dental insurers in the state, KSNB reported. 

A bill proposed in the Florida Senate would expand dental services for Medicaid recipients and raise reimbursement rates for dentists, according to a March 3 report from Florida Politics.

Lawmakers in North Carolina are pushing to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists, according to a Feb. 28 report from NC Health News.

Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America is expanding access to dental insurance through new partnerships and product offerings.

Insufficient Medicaid reimbursement rates are leading community health centers in Connecticut to scale back or completely eliminate dental services, newstimes reported Feb. 25.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 217-215 to adopt its budget plan Feb. 25, which is predicted to lead to drastic Medicaid cuts, NBC News reported. 

A bill has been introduced in the House of Representative that aims to lower the cost of dental care.

Alabama dentists have asked legislators to provide emergency funding as they lose money on Medicaid services, al.com reported Feb. 25. 

The American Dental Association is urging CMS to strengthen dental Medicare Advantage protections, including increased oversight of supplemental dental benefits, according to a Feb. 21 news release from the ADA. 

Some dental practice owners and DSO executives are concerned with the possibility of cuts to the federal Medicaid budget, which they say could threaten dental care accessibility, practice revenue and the workforce.

An article from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health outlined the shortfalls of public dental insurance and offered potential improvements.

The California Dental Association has sponsored multiple bills related to assignment of benefits, network adequacy and virtual credit cards, according to a Feb. 20 news release from the CDA. 

Here are six updates regarding Medicaid and Medicare for dentists to know:

A budget resolution passed by the GOP-led House Budget Committee sets the stage for cuts to several safety net programs, including Medicaid.

We are entering a new year, and with it, the realities around how patients access and finance their dental care continue to evolve.

California State Assembly member Mia Bonta introduced legislation Jan. 29 that would require Medi-Cal and private insurers to cover fluoride varnish for patients under 21 years old, The Sacramento Bee reported Jan. 31. 

The National Association of Dental Plans Foundation recently awarded grants to three organizations dedicated to improving access to oral healthcare.

The Connecticut State Dental Association has urged Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, according to a Jan. 24 report from Inside Investigator.

Washington legislators are considering a bill that would impose more requirements for dental insurers in the state. 

Starting July 1, dentists enrolled in Medicare will need to add an administrative modifier code to each procedure code on the ADA dental claim form, according to a Jan. 14 news release from the American Dental Association.