Sacramento, Calif. – The California Dental Association is appalled by the astonishing May Revise budget proposal released today by Gov. Newsom, which in addition to slashing the Medi-Cal dental program also violates the will of the voters and raises serious legal concerns.
The governor’s proposal would eliminate all Medi-Cal dental funding provided through the voter-approved Proposition 56 tobacco tax (2016), while also ending dental benefits for undocumented adults.
The proposal further disregards the will of voters by diverting Proposition 35 (2024) funding to cover already incurred costs in Medi-Cal and not for increasing provider reimbursements that improve access to care.
After decades of underfunding and failure, the Medi-Cal dental program has made historic progress since the passage of Proposition 56. The number of Medi-Cal dental providers has increased 34% and 40% of California dentists are now enrolled in Medi-Cal.
In the past five years, we have seen a 27% increase in new dental office visits by Medi-Cal patients, amounting to nearly one million more Californians getting dental care every year. Many patients just recently established care with their dentists after years without coverage or proximity to a Medi-Cal provider.
The May Revise proposal throws this away, taking us back to patients having dental benefits on paper without actual access to dental care.
It is all the more devastating and shocking to see this come in the same week that Congress is pursuing the largest Medicaid cuts in history, with a disproportionate impact on California.
To be clear, Proposition 35 has clear language mandating that managed care organization (MCO) tax revenue can only be used to increase provider rates and cannot be diverted to pay for budget shortfalls.
This May Revise is exactly the type of move that large majorities voted to prevent by supporting Propositions 56 and 35. It is unacceptable, especially for a state that aspires to be a leader in protecting health care. More than half of the state’s children and a third of all adults rely on Medi-Cal for essential dental care and are counting on the state to do the right thing.
About the California Dental Association
The California Dental Association represents organized dentistry in the state of California. Founded in l 870, 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.