AN ACT to modernize medicaid dental rates.

Whereas, good oral health is vital to good overall health, and untreated oral health conditions negatively affect overall health and have associations with chronic disease, including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, and even mental illness; and

Whereas, the failure to adjust reimbursement rates to account for increasing inflation and costs over the last fifteen years has resulted in reduced dental provider participation in Medicaid; and

Whereas, regular preventative dental care is the most cost effective method available to prevent minor oral conditions from developing into more complex oral and physical health conditions that would eventually require emergency and palliative care; and

Whereas, in order to improve overall health and access to quality care, increase provider participation in Medicaid, and prevent future health conditions caused by overall health problems, it is in the best interest of the State to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to dental care providers from 35% to 46% of the average dentist charges in 2023 in order to provide rates that are comparable with the Medicaid rates of surrounding states; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Benefits, the sum of fifty‑two million dollars ($52,000,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025‑2027 fiscal biennium to be used to increase the Medicaid rates paid for dental services. These funds shall provide a State match for ninety‑five million dollars ($95,000,000) in recurring federal funds for each year of the 2025‑2027 fiscal biennium, and those funds are appropriated to the Division of Health Benefits for the same purpose.

SECTION 1.(b)  The rate increases required by this section shall be implemented as soon as practicable after July 1, 2025.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.