The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in Aurora has seen a 350 percent increase in Medicaid patients since the state expanded dental coverage, according to a September report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

Several patients of shuttered Dr. Molar Family Dentistry in Milwaukee are disputing bills sent to them for visits that they claim were paid, Fox6 Milwaukee reported Sept. 22.

The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons asked CMS Sept. 17 to create a code for dental surgeries that would increase reimbursements and access for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries.

Of all dentists, pediatric dentists were the least likely to report being paid in full for the week of Sept. 13, according to poll findings from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Dentists have begun offering membership plans to help uninsured patients receive care, Kaiser Health News reported Sept. 17.

In 2020, average general dentist income dipped, though that decline varied widely by state and specialty.

The Delta Dental divisions in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana will expand coverage for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities beginning January 2022, the company announced Sept. 7.

Chicago-based dentist Kevin Patterson, DDS, and engineer Steve Valentor have teamed up to create PayDent, an alternative to dental insurance for patients and dental care providers launched Sept. 14.

Dental coverage benefits under Medicare could be delayed until 2028 under new legislation introduced Sept. 7.

General practice dentists saw a 17.9 percent drop in net income in 2020 compared to 2019, according to an analysis from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Here are six updates on Medicaid and Medicare dental coverage to know:

Subsidiaries of dental insurance company Delta Dental have made a number of moves last month, including new partnerships, leadership appointments and funding initiatives.

Federal officials are trying to accelerate the adoption of dental benefits under Medicare after CMS officials projected that it could take three to five years to implement, The Washington Post reported Sept. 1.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., introduced legislation that would provide Medicare beneficiaries additional dental coverage for certain conditions and procedures.

The American Dental Association's Council on Dental Benefits Programs is creating a task force dedicated to enhancing its Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature.

Delta Dental of Arizona is giving $100,000 to Pacific Dental Services Foundation Dentists for Special Needs, a sensory-integrated nonprofit dental practice in Phoenix, reports The Glendale Star.

Covered California, the state's insurance marketplace, will decrease its rates for dental coverage by 1 percent in 2022.

Delta Dental of Arizona recently appointed Michael Jones president and CEO.

The Delta Dental Institute is funding oral health research at three dental schools to examine solutions that will improve oral healthcare and overall well-being in the U.S.

A May study published in Pediatric Dentistry details an overall decline in emergency department visits for pediatric patients seeking nontraumatic dental care since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, although these visits from children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds increased.