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Member's Press Release

Release Date: 02/05/2016
Contact: Senator Chris Walters at (304) 357-7866

Senator Walters ; ; ; ; ;

Senator Walters Proposes Bill to Expand Dental Coverage for Adult Medicaid Recipients

Charleston, WV - Senator Chris Walters filed Senate Bill 145 for introduction in the West Virginia State Senate January 13, 2016. The bill was sent to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.

The current regulation for adult dental coverage of Medicaid recipients includes treatment of fractures of mandible, maxilla and biopsy, removal of cysts and tumors, and emergency extractions. All other dental options are considered non-covered services for members 21 years of age and over. Senate Bill 145 would require preventative dental care for adult Medicaid recipients.

Preventative dental services is defined as treatment designed for the preservation of healthy teeth and gums and the prevention of dental and oral diseases.

The services that would fall under preventative dental care include:

  • Complete dental examination by a licensed dentist at least twice a year or more frequently as needed for appropriate dental care as determined by the licensed dentist
  • Bite-wing x-rays completed by a licensed dentist or under his/her direction at least once per year or more frequently as needed for appropriate dental care as determined by the licensed dentist
  • Teeth cleanings by a licensed dentist or under his/her direction at least twice per year or more frequently as needed for appropriate dental care as determined by the licensed dentist
  • A full mouth x-ray series at least once every three years or more frequently as needed for appropriate dental care as determined by the licensed dentist.

    If West Virginia passes the bill, it would join the other 32 states (including Washington, D.C.) that already have either limited or extensive dental services for Medicaid recipients.


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