SALT LAKE CITY – Thousands of adult Utahns enrolled in Medicaid are now eligible for dental care under an expanded coverage plan announced by state health officials on Tuesday.
Previously, dental benefits under Medicaid in Utah were limited to specific groups, including children, pregnant women, individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorder, people who are blind or disabled, and adults aged 65 and older. However, a recent expansion through the 1115 Demonstration Waiver, approved earlier this year by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has widened eligibility to include all Medicaid-enrolled adults aged 21 and over, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
The expansion coincides with Utah’s recent legislation banning the addition of fluoride to public drinking water. The bill, HB81, is set to take effect on May 7.
Expanded Access to Care
With this new coverage, an estimated 120,000 adult Medicaid recipients in Utah will now have access to a broad range of dental services. These include regular checkups, X-rays, biannual cleanings, fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, dentures, emergency exams for severe pain, and crowns, state health officials said.
The expansion is being facilitated through a collaboration between Utah Medicaid and the University of Utah School of Dentistry (UUSOD), which will oversee and administer the care. The partnership aims to enhance access to essential dental services for underserved populations.
