Number of dentists in the states with the highest share of Medicaid recipients

There are 840 general dentists in New Mexico, the state with the highest percentage of residents covered by Medicaid and the federal Children's Health Insurance Program.

More than 20% of U.S. residents are enrolled in Medicaid, according to data compiled by KFF. Data on Medicaid enrollees is from 2022, the latest year the data is available. 

The number of general dentists in each state is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was updated in May 2023. 

Here are the number of dentists in the 10 states with the highest percentage of Medicaid and CHIP recipients:

New Mexico

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 33.5%

Number of general dentists: 840

Louisiana

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 32.4%

Number of general dentists: 1,350

New York

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 28.5%

Number of general dentists: 6,890

Kentucky

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 28.3%

Number of general dentists: 1,090

West Virginia

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 28.2%

Number of general dentists: 470

Arkansas

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 27.4%

Number of general dentists:  870

California

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 26.8% 

Number of general dentists: 18,820

Mississippi

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 24.1%

Number of general dentists: 720

Washington, D.C.

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 24.1%

Number of general dentists: 460

Massachusetts

Percentage of the state population enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP: 23.6%

Number of general dentists: 2,710

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