# Foster Youth Dental Act of 2023

This bill extends dental coverage through Medicaid to young adults who spent time in the foster care system. Specifically, it allows former foster youth to keep their Medicaid dental benefits until age 26, rather than losing coverage at age 21 like other young adults. The bill recognizes that foster youth often face unique challenges accessing healthcare and dental care, so it gives them a few extra years of coverage to help them transition to adulthood.

The bill also requires states to pay dentists at competitive rates for treating these young adults. Right now, Medicaid often pays dentists less than what private insurance companies pay, which discourages many dentists from accepting Medicaid patients. This bill requires states to pay dentists at least the average rate that private insurance companies pay for the same services over the past five years. The federal government will cover 100 percent of these increased costs, so states won't have to spend extra money from their budgets. This should make it easier for former foster youth to actually find dentists willing to treat them.

The bill also requires states to inform young people in foster care about the importance of dental health and what dental services are available to them. Additionally, states must create outreach programs to help former foster youth enroll in Medicaid and to recruit dentists to participate in the program. These changes take effect about 80 days after the bill becomes law, giving states time to prepare their systems and notify eligible young adults about their coverage options.

Foster Youth Dental Act of 2023

Kamlager-Dove, Sydney

Foster Youth Dental Act of 2023 This bill expands Medicaid coverage of current and former foster youth, particularly with respect to dental services. Specifically, the bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services, including dental services, for current and former foster youth under the age of 26. States must set a special payment rate, based on rates in the private sector, for dental services provided to such individuals; the bill provides an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for excess expenses that result from such payments. The bill's requirements take effect 80 days after the date of enactment of the bill.