We are excited to share great news on the state budget related to Medicaid dental funding. On March 26, the state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC) finalized their proposed budget plan for the next state fiscal year, in what’s known as the “Long Bill.” As you know, the Governor’s budget proposal had requested cuts to Medicaid dental rates. We are extremely happy to share that in the JBC’s budget plan, CDA was successful in protecting the dental rate increases made in 2024 as proposed cuts were not approved, and successful in defending against a reinstatement of the adult dental benefit cap in Medicaid. Not only did we successfully lobby against cuts to Medicaid dental in the budget plan, but the Joint Budget Committee has also included in their budget an overall increase of 1.6% to every Medicaid rate — including all Medicaid dental rates — that would be effective July 1, 2025.
The Long Bill now goes through the state Senate and House for approval, and then to the Governor for signature. The JBC’s proposed budget plan in the Long Bill is the most significant step in the process, and it is critically important that their proposed budget excludes cuts to Medicaid dental.
Several CDA member dentists who are Medicaid providers actively engaged in efforts to advocate to the Joint Budget Committee on the importance of Medicaid dental services and funding, and we know that advocacy was critical to this success. The message to the Joint Budget Committee from CDA and our member dentists was clear, and we are thrilled with this result, especially in a very tough state budget year when the JBC was tasked with cutting $1.2 billion. We will share an update when the budget has passed through the legislature and is sent to the Governor for signature.
While we acknowledge that the Long Bill has a few more steps before passage, we are celebrating this incredible win today! And of course, we will continue to monitor discussions on Medicaid funding at the federal level.
