The Vermont legislature is expected to address stagnant Medicaid reimbursements for dental services in July 2024, VTDigger reported May 23.
Six notes:
1. A state budget approved by the legislature May 12 includes $13 million to raise Medicaid dental payment rates by 50 percent.
2. Some legislators anticipate Gov. Phil Scott will oppose their budget. The $8.5 billion budget was delivered to the governor May 23, but he has indicated he will veto the budget because of concerns about a 13 percent increase in spending and new taxes, CBS affiliate WCAX reported.
3. Despite the governor's concerns, the Medicaid dental rate increase is still expected to be enacted, the VTDigger reported.
4. Medicaid participation has steadily declined among dentists in the state, but advocates hope the increase will encourage dental practices to accept more Medicaid patients. The Department of Vermont Health Access found in the fall of 2022 that most of the 260 dental practices participating in Medicaid were not accepting new patients.
5. The state is also expected to increase the cap on Medicaid dental costs from $1,000 each year to $1,500.
6. The state legislature also approved H.206, which lifts the cap entirely for those who are pregnant or within 60 days after giving birth and those who receive community-based services for developmental disabilities or severe mental illness.