Proposition 35 was approved by California voters Nov. 5th to boost funding for dental and other healthcare services.
Six notes:
1. Proposition 35 increases healthcare funding and prevents the state from redirecting the funds to other purposes, according to a Nov. 6 news release.
2. The California Dental Association said the ballot measure would increase the Medi-Cal dental budget by at least 10%, or $300 million annually, beginning in 2027 to support several initiatives, including improved reimbursement rates and increased funding for workforce development.
3. The measure could also bring in up to $10 million annually for dental student loan repayments.
4. The goal of increasing funding for Medi-Cal dental services is to boost reimbursement rates for restorative and specialty services for adults. This would complement rate increases made for preventive and pediatric services in previous years.
5. The measure will also expand education and training to increase the number of healthcare workers.
6. The ballot measure passed with 66% of the vote as of the morning of Nov. 6.