West Virginia Medicaid recipients are still having a hard time getting dental care despite gaining expanded coverage in January, WV News reports.

The pandemic is driving investor interest in healthcare, with some lenders anticipating rising out-of-pocket dental care costs will create a lucrative financing market, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 6.

Dental Aid, a three-location nonprofit organization in Colorado, served about 5,000 patients in 2020 — including 1,500 children — Lisa Reusser, outgoing executive director, told The Denver Post.

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is disappointed that the most recent version of Congress' proposed reconciliation package does not include expanded dental benefits under Medicare, the oral health nonprofit said Oct. 28.

A new framework for Congressional Democrats' proposed reconciliation package shared Oct. 28 does not include expanded dental benefits under Medicare, The Hill reported Oct. 28.

The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation will give out $20 million in funds to several nonprofits with dental and oral health initiatives, the organization said Oct. 26.

The Delta Dental Foundation has created a directory for patients in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to find dentists who provide more affordable dental care.

As Congress considers a $3.5 billion reconciliation bill with expanded dental benefits under Medicare, several industry stakeholders have expressed support or opposition to the bill.

In a letter written "to the dentists advocating Medicare coverage of dentistry" and published by The Wall Street Journal Oct. 7, Richard Levy, DDS, urges dentists to resist the proposed Medicare expansion.

In 2020, Medicaid reimbursement was, on average, 60.9 percent of private insurance reimbursement for child dental services, a slight dip from 61.8 percent in 2017, according to data from the American Dental Association.

The former office manager of a Washington, D.C-based dental clinic was sentenced to a year in prison for defrauding the district's Medicaid program.

Enid, Okla.-based Great Plains Family Dentistry saw fewer patients during its second round of free dental care as more patients enroll in the state's Medicaid program, Enid News & Eagle reported Oct. 2.

Wellesley Hills, Mass.-based Sun Life will acquire oral healthcare company DentaQuest for $2.4 billion, the financial services company said Oct. 3.

The National Dental Association has voiced its support for expanded dental benefits under Medicare Part B.

Tampa, Fla.-based WellCare is the U.S.'s best dental insurance company, according to Forbes' 2022 "America's Best Insurance Companies" list.

Delta Dental of California has sold a $152.4 million equity stake investment back to healthcare insurer Moda Holdings Group, the company said Sept. 27.

The American Dental Association and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons requested to meet with CMS regarding recent denials of oral pathology claims in a Sept. 17 letter.

The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in Aurora has seen a 350 percent increase in Medicaid patients since the state expanded dental coverage, according to a September report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

Several patients of shuttered Dr. Molar Family Dentistry in Milwaukee are disputing bills sent to them for visits that they claim were paid, Fox6 Milwaukee reported Sept. 22.

The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons asked CMS Sept. 17 to create a code for dental surgeries that would increase reimbursements and access for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries.