CONTACT KIRAN SAVAGE-SANGWAN AT
TO SIGN-ON TO THIS LETTER
May 11, 2017
RE: Denti-Cal – Full Restoration of Adult Benefit
Dear Chairpersons Ting and Mitchell:
The undersigned organizations write to urge full restoration of the Medi-Cal adult dental benefit in the 2017-18 Budget.
Oral health is critical to physical health, as well as to mental health, employability, and quality of life. Poor oral health is linked to chronic physical health conditions, including diabetes, heart and lung disease, and stroke. Untreated oral health conditions can lead to pain, tooth loss, and missed work and school.
Low-income Californians, communities of color, and limited English proficient individuals are most likely to go without dental care, and to contend with myriad factors that contribute to poor oral health. 40% of Californians living below 200% of the federal poverty level have not seen a dental provider within the last 5 years.
In 2009, California eliminated optional dental benefits for adults enrolled in Medi-Cal. While children continued to receive full dental benefits, adult beneficiaries only had access to federally required procedures, including extractions, pregnancy-related services and emergency dental services. However, with the recognition that oral health is critical to successfully maintaining the health of adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and understanding that by abandoning the state option for dental services California was leaving over $100 million in federal funds untapped, California partially restored the adult dental benefit beginning in 2014. The partial restoration includes examinations, x-rays, prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, restorations, crowns, anterior root canals, and complete dentures.
However, a number of frequently required services are not covered, most prominently partial dentures and root canals for back or molars. Strikingly, we continue to hear from seniors who had all of their teeth removed in order to receive full dentures, only because partial dentures are not a covered service.
Access to Denti-Cal continues to be a significant challenge. Barely 50% of adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries have seen a dental provider in the last year. By contrast, over 80% of Californians with employer-sponsored or privately purchased coverage have seen a dental provider in the last year.
Last November, Californians approved Proposition 56 to increase taxes on cigarettes, including electronic cigarettes, and allocate the majority of revenues to Medi-Cal to increase the level of payment for health care, services, and treatment. The Administration estimates that revenues in 2017-18 will be $1.4 billion. Of this, the $1.3 billion is available to improve the Medi-Cal program. Fully restoring adult dental services is an appropriate and important use of the Proposition 56 revenues.
DHCS has estimated the cost to fully restore adult dental services to be $69.5 million. Full restoration of the adult dental benefit is critical to ensuring oral health for California’s Medi-Cal enrollees.
Once again, CPEHN urges the Legislature to fully restore the adult dental benefit. Please contact Kiran Savage-Sangwan at or 916-447-1299 with any questions.
Sincerely,
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