Dental News - California Dental Association calls for Denti-Cal improvements

California Dental Association

Fri. 15 January 2016

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA: The release of Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 2016-17 budget highlights a critical juncture for the state’s Medi-Cal system, including its chronically underfunded and underperforming dental program, Denti-Cal. The California Dental Association is calling on the legislature to recognize opportunities to make meaningful and innovative reforms to the program that falls short of providing care to millions of low-income Californians.

The recent 1115 waiver between California and the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows for an additional $750 million investment in the state’s Denti-Cal program over a five-year time frame. CDA is advocating for the state to increase its support for proven early-treatment programs, innovative pilots and greater accountability for care delivery and outcomes.

“This waiver gives the state new flexibility to work on innovative dental programs and scrap those that are underperforming,” said CDA President Ken Wallis, DDS. “We know the state’s 20-year dental managed care pilot programs in Sacramento and Los Angeles are unsuccessful and have not served children well — it’s time for the state to move away from the ineffective dental managed care plan models and develop and test new and sustainably funded dental care programs that provide better access to care.”

With millions of children and adults recently included in the state’s Medi-Cal system, meaningful reforms of the Denti-Cal program are necessary to ensure access to timely care and an adequate network of providers. Even after the recent 10 percent rate cut reversal for dental providers, California still has among the nation’s lowest Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, which are only 35 percent of the national average. A highly critical state audit found that 56 percent of children enrolled in the Denti-Cal program are not able to access any dental care.

Additionally, the Little Hoover Commission convened two unprecedented hearings on the failings of the Denti-Cal program requested by Assemblyman Jim Wood, DDS, (Healdsburg) and Sen. Richard Pan, MD, (Sacramento). A report from those hearings is anticipated early this year.

CDA looks forward to working with the administration and legislature on Denti-Cal program reforms to ensure millions of children and adults can access much needed dental care.

(Source: California Dental Association)

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