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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget2026-04-23

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $80 million in recurring state funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services, which have not been meaningfully increased since 2008. The goal is to encourage more dentists to accept Medicaid patients and improve access to oral health care for low-income North Carolinians.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that higher reimbursement rates will incentivize dentists to participate in Medicaid and accept more Medicaid patients, expanding access to preventive dental care.
• •They contend this reduces costly emergency department visits for dental emergencies and addresses a critical gap in oral health care for thousands of low-income North Carolinians who currently struggle to find participating dentists.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may argue that $80 million in new state spending strains the General Fund budget and could be allocated to other priorities.
• •Some may question whether rate increases alone will significantly increase dentist participation or whether the funds represent the most cost-effective approach to improving access compared to other solutions.