Tennessee legislators are reviewing a proposal to offer Medicaid dental coverage to all adult enrollees, NPR affiliate WPLN reported Feb. 15.
Five things to know:
1. TennCare, the state's Medicaid program, currently covers children, people with disabilities and those who are pregnant.
2. The proposal, introduced during the state's budget hearing during Fall 2021, would cost $75 million to expand coverage to more than 600,000 Medicaid enrollees.
3. The state would pay dentists more to see Medicaid patients, according to TennCare Director Stephen Smith.
4. The proposal is an extension of the state's October 2021 Healthy Smiles Initiative to improve oral health in the state.
5. To alleviate predicted workforce issues if the proposal passes, the Tennessee Department of Health would spend $94 million over the next five years to help Knoxville-based University of Tennessee and Nashville-based Meharry Medical College expand their dental programs. It would also provide loan forgiveness to dental students who commit to working in underserved areas after graduation.