Governor Proposes $1B Medi-Cal Dental Cut, 49% of Dentists Would Leave Program
Governor Newsom proposed cutting $1 billion from Medi-Cal Dental effective July 1, 2026, reducing reimbursement rates by 40-80%. A 70+ group 'Save Our Dental Care' coalition (CDA, children's advocacy, labor) fought back.
49% of Medi-Cal dentists said they would leave the program; another 30% would reduce Medi-Cal patients. Signed-budget outcome: the June 29 budget delayed the dental supplemental-payment cut to July 1, 2027, aligning it with the delayed UIS adult dental and UIS/PPS planning horizon.
Part of
- California's budget, the MCO tax and Proposition 35
The annual budget
Key points
- $1B cut = 40-80% rate reduction for Medi-Cal Dental
- 49% of dentists would leave Medi-Cal + 30% would reduce patients
- Forfeits ~$576M in federal matching (9:1 for ACA expansion)
- 70+ group coalition fighting before May Revise deadline
Sources for this story
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FQHC Talent. (2026, April 6). Governor Proposes $1B Medi-Cal Dental Cut, 49% of Dentists Would Leave Program. Source: California Dental Association. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/medi-cal-dental-1b-cut-coalition-april-2026
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