Sacramento, Calif. — The California Dental Association issued the following statement today on the state legislature’s budget agreement.
The proposed legislative agreement delays Governor Newsom’s proposal to eliminate Proposition 56 funding for Medi-Cal Dental services and dental coverage for undocumented adults until July 1, 2027, while accepting the governor’s diversion of Proposition 35 funding.
CDA very much appreciates the legislature rejecting the governor’s proposal to immediately eliminate Proposition 56 dental funding and coverage for undocumented adults. Such a move would have eliminated access to dental care for millions of Medi-Cal patients. These are difficult, uncertain times, and lawmakers face challenging decisions when prioritizing necessary spending reductions while protecting vulnerable Californians. We thank the legislature for their efforts to avoid Medi-Cal Dental cuts.
Lawmakers must also be mindful that delaying these cuts to 2027, rather than rejecting them, continues to leave patients and providers very much in limbo and without reassurance about the future of the Medi-Cal Dental program. Proposition 56 funds amount to one-third of all Medi-Cal Dental funding, and the intent of the measure, as approved by voters in 2016, remains the same.
Proposition 56 dental funding has led to historic improvements in patient access and dentist participation:
- 27% increase in new dental office visits by Medi-Cal patients over the past five years, amounting to nearly one 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.
This progress will be eliminated without assurances about the future of this funding. We urge legislators to fully remove this cut in future budget actions to provide that assurance.
In addition, diverting Proposition 35 funding disregards the will of the voters and raises serious legal concerns.
As the federal government continues to deliberate sweeping cuts to Medicaid, California should be doing more, not less, to protect the 15 million patients who rely on Medi-Cal.
About the California Dental Association
The California Dental Association represents organized dentistry in the state of California. Founded in 1870, CDA is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 27,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org.