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Licensed general and pediatric dentists, RDHs and other health care providers in California who practice in a federally designated health professional shortage area can apply online by Sept. 15 for educational loan repayment through the California State Loan Repayment Program. 

Starting Oct. 31, dental providers must electronically submit Medi-Cal enrollment applications and required documentation through the online portal PAVE. Dentists can attend upcoming webinars to learn how to use the portal.

The California 2022-23 state budget signed by Gov. Newsom includes all of CDA’s priority asks with major investments in health care workforce development and $50 million to build and expand facilities and infrastructure to provide care for dental patients with special health care needs.

Student representatives from six California dental schools met earlier this year with state legislators to discuss critical issues affecting dentistry and oral health as part of  Grassroots Advocacy Days. The students highlighted solutions through state budget funding and CDA-sponsored legislation.

When using telehealth services, patients must be adequately informed about their health plan coverage limitations and options so they can make informed choices about the care they receive. A CDA-sponsored bill will inform patients and protect the provider-patient elationship.
 

CDA’s legislative and budget advocacy agenda for 2022 is focused on two key areas: addressing dental workforce shortages that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding access to dental care for vulnerable populations. 

CalHealthCares, overseen by the California Department of Health Care Services, is designed to expand access to care by incentivizing dentists to serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries by repaying educational debt or covering eligible practice-related expenses.

CalAIM is a multiyear initiative by the Department of Health Care Services that aims to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of the Medi-Cal population by implementing broad delivery system, program and payment reform across Medi-Cal.

The CDA Foundation’s Student Loan Repayment Grant has been awarded annually since 2002. The two recipients of the 2021 grant are Sogole Tabatabaiepur, DDS, and Jose Carrasco Sandoval, DDS.