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Medicaid and CHIP

The ADA works closely with lawmakers, regulators, and others to help mend the tattered dental safety net. This includes reforming parts of the Medicaid program, which is the largest source of funding for medical and other health-related services for people with low income in the United States. The ADA is also fighting to maintain federal requirement for states to cover dental services in their respective CHIP programs, which together cover nearly 8 million children from low-income families.

Priorities
The Association's priorities are based on the major policies and positions (PDF) (Members Only) adopted by the ADA House of Delegates.
- Maintaining the federal requirement for states to cover dental services under the Medicaid Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
- Requiring states to cover dental services for Medicaid-eligible adults, and exempt all preventive dental services from cost-sharing requirements.
- Preserving the federal financing role in the Medicaid program and update the federal matching formula to address economic changes.
- Enhancing the federal Medicaid matching rate to 90/10 for dental care.
- Maintaining the federal requirement for states to cover dental services in their respective CHIP programs.
In Congress
- February 5, 2019—Letter (PDF) of support to U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey for sponsoring House Resolution 826, expressing disapproval of recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance on Medicaid block grants, which would have a detrimental effect on Medicaid dental care.
- June 20, 2019—Letter (PDF) Partnership for Medicaid Coalition Letter on Medicaid Funding in US Territories
- January 18, 2018—Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to reauthorize Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- December 14, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to reauthorize Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- September 18, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to reject proposed changes to the Medicaid program in the health care reform proposal offered by Sens. Lindsay Graham and Bill Cassidy.
- September 13, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Senate Committee on Finance to prioritize reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program before its budgetary authority expires on September 30, 2017.
- July 17, 2017—Letter (PDF) urging members of the United States Senate to reject drastic reductions to the Medicaid program when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
- June 12, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging House and Senate leaders to enact a long-term funding extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- June 9, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Budget Committee to protect access to dental services in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
- February 27, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to protect and enhance dental coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
- February 27, 2017—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the Senate Finance Committee to protect and enhance dental coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
- January 11, 2017—Letter (PDF) urging House leaders to protect and enhance dental coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
- January 11, 2017—Letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to protect and enhance dental coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) when considering health care reform legislation in the 115th Congress.
Federal and State Agencies
- April 17, 2020—Letter (PDF) to Secretary Azar of HHS and Administrator Verma of CMS requesting Medicaid relief funds for Dentists.
- March 5, 2020—Letter (PDF) to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar thanking him for announcing the appointment of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief Dental Officer, and asking for more information.
- February 5, 2020—Letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concerns about the impact Medicaid block grants would have on Medicaid dental care
- November 6, 2019—American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Nebraska Dental Association, and the Nebraska Society of Pediatric Dentistry letter expressing concerns about pediatric Medicaid dental audits
- September 13, 2019—American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Letter (PDF) on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal to rescind the Medicaid access rule.
- September 13, 2019—Partnership for Medicaid letter (PDF) coalition letter on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' proposal to rescind the Medicaid access rule.
- January 11, 2019—Coalition letter (PDF) commenting on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule on Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care.
- May 22, 2018—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider proposed changes to the Medicaid access rule.
ADA News
Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.
- House passes resolution aimed at better serving Medicaid population (ADA News 11/29/18)
- California state budget increases Denti-Cal reimbursement rates (ADA News 7/30/18)
- Kentucky reverses itself on Medicaid dental cuts after uproar (ADA News 7/27/2018)
- HPI report: More Medicaid kids seeing dentists (ADA News 7/25/2018)
- Guide, webinar connects dentists with Medicaid resources (ADA News 6/26/2018)
- Health organizations urge CMS not to change Medicaid Access Rule (ADA News 5/23/2018)
- Maryland bill authorizes Medicaid adult dental coverage pilot program (ADA News 5/16/2018)
- 39 percent of U.S. dentists participate in Medicaid or CHIP for child dental services (ADA News 3/14/2018)
- ADA outlines priorities for oral health to new HHS secretary (ADA News 2/14/2018)
- Congress extends CHIP for 10 years (ADA News 2/13/2018)
- Congress reauthorizes CHIP, ADA thanks dentists for their grassroots efforts (ADA News 1/23/2018)
- ADA asks Congress to prioritize CHIP, repeal medical device tax (ADA News 1/18/2018)
- ADA makes case for CHIP’s public health and prevention fund in email (ADA News 12/19/2017)
- ADA, AAPD urge Congress to reauthorize CHIP (ADA News 12/14/2017)
- ADA: Ask your senators to reauthorize CHIP (ADA News 11/28/17)
- ADA resolution calls for peer to peer Medicaid audits (ADA News 11/9/2017)
- Webinar to help dentists understand, create Medicaid compliance plan (ADA News 10/23/17)
- ADA weighs in on HHS strategic plan (ADA News 10/18/17)
- ADA, others ask Congress to extend children's coverage (ADA News 10/2/17)
- ADA, AAPD urge Senate to prioritize oral health care in ACA reform (ADA News 9/13/17)
- ADA urges Senate to reject cuts to Medicaid (ADA News 7/18/17)
- ADA offers input during HHS meeting with Sec. Tom Price (ADA News 6/22/17)
- ADA, others ask Senate to prioritize oral health (ADA News 6/12/17)
- ADA, Partnership for Medicaid ask Senate to remain committed to Medicaid (ADA News 5/24/17)
- House passes American Health Care Act (ADA News 5/4/17)
- ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day kicks off in D.C. (ADA News 3/27/17)
- House vote on AHCA set for March 23 (ADA News 3/22/17)
- Association continues to advocate for key oral health issues (ADA News 3/14/17)
- ADA to Congress: Prioritize oral health in ACA reform (ADA News 3/8/17)
- ADA weighs in on ACA repeal (ADA News 1/17/17)

Contacts

Government and Public Affairs

Washington Office
202.898.2400
Email: govtpol@ada.org

State Government Affairs
312.440.2525
Email: govtpol@ada.org

American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC)
202.898.2424
Email: adpac@ada.org

Media Relations

Journalists may contact the media relations department at:

Media Relations
312.440.2806
Email: mediarelations@ada.org

Center for Professional Success (CPS)

Questions about government rules and regulations? Explore the ADA Center for Professional Success. (Members Only)

Other Questions?

For all other questions or inquiries, please contact us.

Prepared by: Division of Government and Public Affairs
Last Updated: November 11, 2019

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