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
12 hours ago
#DYK tooth decay can be prevented? Access to preventive oral health care like regular check ups, sealants and community water fluoridation can help a child grow up cavity free, setting them on a lifelong path of good oral - and overall - health. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
13 hours ago
#DYK tooth decay can be prevented? Access to preventive oral health care like regular check ups, sealants and community water fluoridation can help a child grow up cavity free, setting them on a lifelong path of good oral - and overall - health. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 days ago
December 4th is National Cookie Day. #DYK that drinking water is the preferred beverage because it is a sugar-free way to quench thirst and helps wash away food particles? And if your water is fluoridated? Even better! #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 days ago
December 4th is National Cookie Day. #DYK that drinking water is the preferred beverage because it is a sugar-free way to quench thirst and helps wash away food particles? And if your water is fluoridated? Even better! #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago
Thanks to the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program, Washington state is a national leader in providing dental care for young lower-income kids and has dramatically increased the number of Apple Health-insured children accessing preventive oral health care and timely dental treatments. ...#teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
5 days ago
Thanks to the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program, Washington state is a national leader in providing dental care for young lower-income kids and has dramatically increased the number of Apple Health-insured children accessing preventive oral health care and timely dental treatments. ...#teethmatter