CDA has organized more than 70 California health care provider groups, labor and workforce advocates and children’s advocacy organizations to support preserving essential Medi-Cal Dental funding.
The Save Our Dental Care coalition announced its formation on Jan. 6 before Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his 2026-27 state budget proposal calling for $1 billion in cuts to Medi-Cal Dental, which serves more than half of California’s children and one-third of its adults. The cuts initially were due to take effect last year, but legislators postponed them for one year following an extensive campaign by CDA and other coalition members.
Now, the cuts are looming with one-third of Medi-Cal Dental funding set to be eliminated July 1, 2026. This cut would bring the program to 1990s funding levels and would have catastrophic impacts on millions of patients.
“These cuts are deeply harmful, incredibly disproportionate and defy the will of the voters,” said CDA President Robert Hanlon, DMD. “Lawmakers must treat dental care as essential health care and prevent these cuts from taking effect in the next budget.”
California voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved Proposition 56, the tobacco tax measure that increased funding for Medi-Cal Dental and led to a historic expansion in access to care for millions of patients:
- 27% increase in new dental office visits by Medi-Cal patients over the past five years, amounting to nearly 1 million more Californians getting dental care.
- 34% increase in the number of Medi-Cal dental providers across the state.
- 40% of California dentists are now enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Funds from Prop 56 account for one-third of all Medi-Cal Dental funding. Yet, if the proposed cuts take effect, California will have the 48th lowest Medicaid dental reimbursement rates for children in the country, ahead of just Illinois and Florida.
Furthermore, although dental funding comprises just 1.5% of Medi-Cal program funding, it is facing 15% of Medi-Cal budget cuts. Those cuts also leave federal matching funds on the table, costing California approximately $576 million.
Proposed budget ‘a direct attack’ on low-income families, veterans, persons with disabilities
The Save Our Dental Care coalition released a statement on Jan. 9, the day the governor released the budget proposal, stating in part:
“Today’s proposed budget, which slashes the Medi-Cal Dental program to funding levels from 30+ years ago, is not just a disappointment to the millions of Californians who rely on the program for their dental care, but a direct attack on low-income families, communities of color, children, veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities who the program is supposed to prioritize.
In the coming weeks and months, as legislators consider important budget decisions, our coalition of dentists, physicians, children’s advocates, social justice organizations, civil rights groups and more will be urging restoration of the cuts that will undermine access to dental care for their constituents who need the most protections.”
Budget cuts would decrease dentists’ participation in Medi-Cal, survey suggests
CDA will publish later this month the results of a survey it conducted late last year to gauge the impact of the proposed budget cuts on dentists who participate in Medi-Cal. The results are a clear-cut indicator that the Medi-Cal provider network and program will collapse.
Watch the CDA newsroom, weekly member newsletter, Inside California Dentistry sent every Friday) and CDA’s social media channels for budget updates and for more information on ways to get involved in CDA’s advocacy to reject the Medi-Cal cuts. (Members: Not receiving Inside California Dentistry? Here’s how to opt back in.)
Learn more about the coalition, and see the list of members numbering 71 at time of publication but still growing.