A nonpartisan group of more than 90 organizations is asking Congress to lift a federal funding ban that is prohibiting states and tribal communities from accessing health workforce grants for dental therapy programs.

Epic Insurance Brokers and Consultants acquired Treloar & Heisel, expanding Epic's financial planning and insurance services to dental and medical professionals.

The Maryland legislature has approved a bill to add comprehensive dental benefits for adults under Medicaid, ABC affiliate WMDT reported April 6. 

Florida's Medicaid dental benefits will remain under its own program despite efforts to roll it into the state's managed care system, Florida Politics reported April 6. 

The Illinois legislature recently passed a bill that would require insurers to cover all craniofacial surgeries for kids up until the age of 19, wcia.com reported March 31. 

Below are four dental companies that completed funding rounds in the first quarter:

Dental insurance claims platform Zentist launched an AI-guided platform that provides automated explanations of benefits for dental patients and DSOs.

The Maine Senate has passed a bill that would establish a dental loss ratio that aligns with the medical loss ratio required under the Affordable Care Act, Fox affiliate WFVX reported March 23. 

HHS' Covid-19 Uninsured Program has stopped accepting claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment because of a lack of sufficient funds, and it could affect dental services.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a proposal to impose spending barriers on private dental insurers, the Gloucester Daily Times reported March 22. 

Maryland legislators are considering a proposal that would add basic dental coverage for Medicaid recipients in the state, the Cumberland Times-News reported March 18.

Whether purchasing or selling a dental practice, there's one financial tip individuals should always consider, the California Dental Association reported March 21.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's budget includes funds to expand dental benefits to those on the state's Medicaid program, TennCare, and incentivize dentists to open practices in underserved communities, Nashville's NPR affiliate WPLN News reported March 21.

Dental group Brush365 has partnered with payment platform FeatherPay to give patients flexibility on how they pay for dental care.

A bill introduced under Oklahoma's House of Representatives is causing a divide among dental professionals and insurers in the state. 

From private equity investments to insurance coverage statistics, here are five dental payer updates:

The House passed a $1.5 trillion federal spending package March 9 after pulling COVID-19 funding from the bill earlier that day, according to The New York Times.

A former Virginia dental office employee who embezzled more than $177,000 struck a plea deal to serve five years of a 20-year prison sentence, The Free Lance-Star reported March 8.

A Kentucky legislator has introduced a bill that would significantly increase Medicaid reimbursements for dentists, WDRB reported Feb. 26.

Well Articulated Dental Studios, a new line of dental offices serving the suburbs of Chicago, has chosen PayDent as its preferred payment provider.