Medicaid Expansion Presents an Opportunity to Secure Dental Coverage for Low-Income Adults
In Washington State, the Medicaid adult dental program was largely eliminated in 2011 due to budget shortfalls. Thanks to action by the Washington State Legislature, coverage was restored January 1, 2014.
Arcora Foundation and its many partners successfully advocated for the restoration of the Medicaid adult dental program. Success required:
- compelling messages
- strong grassroots advocacy
- a broad-based lobbying coalition
- effective media outreach
These tactics, combined with the right timing and a recovering state economy, led to the restoration of dental coverage for Medicaid-insured adults, which has the potential to benefit more than 775,000 low-income people in Washington.
The opportunity to leverage federal dollars proved to be one of the arguments that persuaded policymakers. Because of the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of the Medicaid program, the federal government will pay the full cost of dental care for all new enrollees through Medicaid expansion. To learn more about this and other messages that generated bipartisan support for the Medicaid adult dental program, read our advocacy brief.
Trying to Secure Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage in Your State?
No need to re-create the wheel! Adapt our materials to suit your needs:
- Various 1-pagers distributed to policymakers (1, 2, 3)
- Earned Media
- Action alerts, Blog posts
- Radio spots (Emergency Room audio, Diabetes audio)
- Other media touting the importance of oral health (Wall Street Journal, Deseret News, HealthLeaders, Yakima Herald Republic)
Oral Health Watch
1h
You've heard about the SmileMobile, but likely haven't seen what's inside. Check out this video to get an inside peek of the state-of-the art dental clinic that travels throughout Washington providing dental care for lower income kids, pregnant people and their families. Thanks ...Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Children's and caring volunteers for making the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
Tour the SmileMobile, a three chair mobile dental van that travels across all corners of Washington state.
www.youtube.comOral Health Watch
6h
You've heard about the SmileMobile, but likely haven't seen its inside. Check out this video to get an inside peek of the traveling dental bus that cares for lower income kids, pregnant people and their families throughout WA state. #teethmatter
Tour the SmileMobile, a three chair mobile dental van that travels across all corners of Washington state.
www.youtube.comOral Health Watch
4d
June is Pride Month! Approaching oral health care with cultural humility is key to improving access to care and health outcomes for all, and that includes LGBTQIA+ patients. #teethmatter #pridemonth🏳️🌈 #PrideMonth2023🏳️🌈 #Pride🏳️🌈
Oral Health Watch
4d
June is Pride Month! Approaching oral health care with cultural humility is key to improving access to care and health outcomes for all, and that includes LGBTQIA+ patients. #teethmatter #pridemonth🌈 #pride🌈
Oral Health Watch
4d
June is Pride Month! Approaching oral health care with cultural humility is key to improving access to care and health outcomes for all, and that includes LGBTQIA+ patients. #teethmatter #pridemonth🌈 #pride🌈
Oral Health Watch
5d
Everybody deserves to enjoy the benefits of good oral health. What better time than June (designated as Oral Health Month) to support policies, programs and efforts that expand access to preventive measures like water fluoridation & oral health care!? #teethmatter #OralHealthMonth