Online Dental, Illinois Lawmakers Revive Adult Dental Benefits in Medicaid
Lawmakers restored adult dental benefits within Medicaid on July 1, two years after eliminating coverage.
The Illinois State Dental Society played a large role in persuading the Illinois General Assembly, and ultimately Gov. Pat Quinn, to approve a budget that includes funding for adult dental benefits. Since adult dental benefits were cut two years ago, the ISDS expressed its opposition and, as a consequence, identified restoring adult dental care as a key determinate in its future support for members of the General Assembly and the current administration, said Dave Marsh, ISDS director of government affairs.
Lawmakers not only restored $35 million for the previous program, they expanded Medicaid coverage and funding to pay for the additional 400,000 adults the program will not cover under the federal Affordable Care Act, which is reimbursed at 100 percent for three years. There are now close to 1 million Illinois adults who now have dental benefits under Medicaid, Mr. Marsh said.
