Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Health Care
  •  

Denti-Cal ‘Remains a Seriously Troubled Program’, Commission Report Finds

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Public Domain
 

Public Domain

Updated Oct. 3, 3:39 p.m.

The latest report on California’s low-income dental program finds it’s still plagued by cost and accessibility issues, making it tough for patients to find care.

The Little Hoover Commission, an independent watchdog group led by state legislators, found that policy changes to Denti-Cal in recent years haven’t translated to major improvements.

“California’s promise of quality dental coverage for millions of low-income children and adults who are eligible for Denti-Cal has not been adequately fulfilled,” report authors wrote.

Half of all children and one-third of all adults in the state are enrolled in the dental arm of Medi-Cal, according to the California Dental Association. The program has a history of long wait times that negatively affect patient health.

Adults and caregivers aren’t receiving enough education about Denti-Cal services, the process of finding care is too tedious, and funding for the program is not sustainable, according to the commission.

They also point out a lack of data transparency and clear communication from the Department of Health Care Services, which administers the program.

“It is a general feeling among providers that sometimes the rules are not clear,” said Dr. Paul Glassman, director of community oral health at the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.

He said the department sometimes agrees to pay for a service, but when a dentist submits the requested paperwork, DHCS denies the request, calling the explanations unsatisfactory.

Major legislative efforts in recent years have sought to improve the situation by incentivizing more providers to accept Denti-Cal. The program recently began receiving funding from the Proposition 56 tobacco tax, which allowed for the full restoration of adult dental benefits and better provider reimbursement rates. New laws over the past three years have aimed to increase patient utilization and reduce bureaucratic red tape.

DHCS has made its own changes, including simplifying the paper application process for providers, creating a digital application and releasing a handbook describing Denti-Cal policies, procedures and billing instructions.

The department is also launching a statewide education campaign to inform Denti-Cal enrollees about available services and reduce fear around visiting the dentist.

“The Medi-Cal Dental Program is moving in the right direction,” department representatives said in a statement. “Improvement efforts must continue in the years ahead.”

Still, dentists and families who gave testimony for the report say it’s a broken system.

“Unfortunately the basic structure of the program still remains the same, and makes it unattractive for providers who have a choice, who don’t need to be a part of it,” Glassman said.

He said the more promising answer lies in rethinking the way dental care is delivered and focusing on prevention efforts that could reduce the amount of oral disease statewide.

Editor’s Note: We updated this story to include comment from the Department of Healthcare Services provided after publication.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Illustration By Melody Stone / Capital Public Radio

    How A Broken, $1 Billion State Program Leaves Californians With Cavities

    Monday, August 22, 2016
    Most California dentists refuse to participate in the Denti-Cal program, leaving patients with impossible wait times that lead to lost teeth, horror stories and expensive health consequences.

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Health Care Stories

AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Interview: Infectious outbreaks may lead to discrimination. Here’s why we should avoid that.

June 27, 2022

 Massimiliano Finzi/Getty Images

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

July 1, 2022

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

As states ban abortion, Californians open their arms and wallets

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

As states ban abortion, Californians open their arms and wallets

With California budget surplus projected at $97 billion, Newsom proposes driver rebates, more reproductive health funding

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.