Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the state’s budget bill June 22, which includes additional funding for dental Medicaid services.
Three notes:
1. The budget includes approximately $140 million in new funding to increase reimbursement rates for frequently billed Medicaid dental codes.
2. The funds will be used to apply a uniform rate increase to nearly 50 procedure codes, including evaluations, diagnostic x-rays, fluoride treatments, extractions and stainless steel crowns.
3. The Texas Health and Human Services Department will determine the fee increase for these codes, which will likely go into effect Sept.1, according to a news release from the Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform.
