Nebraska Medicaid has collaborated with dental professionals across the state to develop multiple proposed changes to improve dental care as of January 1, 2024. These changes aim to expand dental services and care for Medicaid beneficiaries and to increase efficiency for dental providers.
Nebraska Medicaid is proposing the following changes:
1. Removing the annual dental benefit maximum: The current policy limits adult members to $750 of dental care a year. This creates a barrier to care for new and high-need members who may need additional dental care. Removing the dental benefit maximum will improve access to care for our members and remove an administrative obstacle for dentists across the state.
2. Interruption of denture treatment: Acquiring dentures can be a long and expensive process. The current reimbursement policy only provides for payment when the process is complete. Nebraska Medicaid suggests reimbursing dentists over time for each step of the process. This will ensure that dentists can receive payment for the work they complete even when the full process cannot be completed.
3. Asymptomatic wisdom tooth extraction: Nebraska Medicaid proposes to bring our policy in greater alignment with commercial plans and cover the extraction of asymptomatic wisdom teeth based on the judgment of the provider. This change will help members proactively prevent later health issues and align with the current standard of practice for wisdom tooth extraction.
4. Services provided by Public Health Dental Hygienists: In 2024, public health dental hygienists will be reimbursed for select services they provide to Medicaid members. This will help improve dental access and dental health. A complete list of service codes can be found online at: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid-Dental-Care.aspx.
Nebraska Medicaid will host a public hearing on the proposed changes on January 22, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Meadowlark Conference Room at 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509.
“We cannot be successful without the valuable input and insights we get from our community members and stakeholders,” said Matt Ahern, Interim Director for Medicaid and Long-Term Care. “The public comment period provides transparency and accountability in our decision-making process. We look forward to active participation from our community stakeholders in shaping the future of dental services provided by Nebraska Medicaid.”
Nebraska Medicaid encourages anyone interested in providing feedback to do so by emailing dhhs.regulations@nebraska.gov or providing comments in person during the public hearing on January 22, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m. The input received will help inform the finalization of the dental changes, ensuring that they effectively address the needs of Nebraska Medicaid members.
More information on the proposed changes can be found online at: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid-Dental-Care.aspx.