Potential Medicaid cuts could thwart effort to expand access to dental services in North Carolina

A free dental clinic drew about 600 patients over a two-day run in High Point recently.

The event came amid uncertainty about the funding of oral care for Medicaid-eligible patients.

Lines began forming at 5 a.m. Friday for the clinic at Williams Memorial CME Church. Rows of dental professionals spent the day providing cleanings, fillings and extractions.

Organizers say the demand shows the need for more access to dental care. There’s a bill in the General Assembly that would help. If approved, the legislation by Randolph GOP Representative Brian Biggs and three other Republicans would provide $52 million in state funding to increase Medicaid rates for dental services.

Elle Basile, public affairs senior manager for the North Carolina Dental Society, says the bill would bring North Carolina’s reimbursement rates up to those of neighboring states.

"We're cautiously optimistic about the bill," she says. "I think we have a great case, as shown by this clinic, that there's a huge access to care need that we could close the gap on if we were able to raise rates."

The legislature is also dealing with another issue that could affect dental services in a much different way. The state is bracing for potential Medicaid cuts under the Trump Administration. 

One thing lawmakers may consider in order to save money should those reductions occur is cutting back on oral care.

State Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, attended the clinic and supports the legislative measure to increase the rates. And she wants North Carolinians to advocate against cuts from the federal budget.

"But while they're doing that, then we have an obligation to take care of people here in North Carolina," she says. "That's what we as legislators are elected to do, to look out for our folk here."

The North Carolina bill would raise the Medicaid reimbursement rates from 35 percent to 46 percent of average dentist charges from 2023. If approved it would go into effect in July.