# Plain Language Summary: Medicaid Dental Benefit Act

Right now, most adults on Medicaid don't have dental coverage. This bill would change that by requiring all states to cover dental care for adults on Medicaid, starting about a year after the bill becomes law. The coverage would include routine cleanings and exams, fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, dentures, emergency dental care, and treatment for jaw and facial pain disorders. Basically, it treats dental care as a regular health benefit rather than an optional extra.

To make this happen without breaking state budgets, the federal government would pick up most of the cost. For the first three years, the federal government would pay 100 percent of the cost of adult dental services. After that, the percentage would gradually decrease—95 percent in year four, 90 percent in year five, 85 percent in year six, and 80 percent from year seven onward. This financial support is designed to help states afford the expansion without cutting other programs. States that already offer better dental coverage wouldn't lose money; they'd keep their current federal funding level.

The bill also requires the government to develop quality measures to track how well dental care is being delivered, with special attention to whether care is reaching all communities fairly or if some groups are being left behind. States would have to report annually on their dental coverage, who's using it, and whether there are gaps in care for certain populations. Additionally, the bill funds outreach programs to help people understand what dental benefits they have and how to access them, with materials in multiple languages and culturally appropriate information.

Medicaid Dental Benefit Act

Medicaid Dental Benefit Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover dental and oral health services for adults. It also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for such services. The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services must develop oral health quality and equity measures and conduct outreach relating to such coverage. Additionally, the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission must report on specified information relating to adult oral health care.