Gov. Mills announces MaineCare dental coverage expansion

Coverage will extend for older people and maximize reimbursement charges for suppliers starting off July 1.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills introduced an expansion of MaineCare dental coverage Wednesday afternoon for grown ups, which will also maximize reimbursement rates for dental suppliers beginning July 1, according to a news release issued by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

MaineCare recipients ages 21 and older will be instantly enrolled in the expanded dental protection advantage approach, which is expected to advantage additional than 200,000 Mainers.

Companies serving little ones and older people can anticipate to see a 70 p.c maximize on common in guidance for diagnostic and preventative services costs to reportedly minimize long term charges of oral healthcare services, according to the launch.

The expansion comes as a part of $45 million invested in oral health as included in Maine’s 2022-2023 Biennial Finances concentrating on preventative dental treatment, reportedly doubling its preceding funding allocation.

“Dental health is an essential aspect of general health,” Mills mentioned in the launch. “Providing preventive and routine dental treatment will not only enhance the health and wellness of hundreds of countless numbers of Maine individuals, but it will also help you save income in the lengthy-run by stopping the need to have for expensive crisis care. I am happy to have labored with the Legislature to develop dental care for Maine people.”

The release states the MaineCare dental expansion comes just after a yr-prolonged work by the Maine Department of Health and Human Solutions alongside dental companies and oral health leaders to put into practice Speaker of the Residence Ryan Fecteau’s monthly bill, LD 996, An Act To Improve Dental Health Access for Maine Children and Grownups with Reduced Incomes, which was unanimously supported.

“With MaineCare covering 1 in 4 individuals in Maine, this new dental coverage blended with better reimbursement premiums will gain hundreds of hundreds of Maine people today,” DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said in the launch. “Oral health is essential to general health and to collaborating in the neighborhood and the workforce. We’re grateful to the Governor, Speaker Fecteau and the Legislature, and our partners in the course of the condition for generating this crucial gain a actuality.”

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