Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Introduced
Summary
Makes adult dental care a mandatory Medicaid benefit and pairs that change with a temporary, full federal match to speed state adoption. It sets a clear list of covered oral health services and an effective date for the new rule of January 1, 2027.
Show full summary
- Adults on Medicaid: Requires coverage of dental and oral health services for adults. Covered care includes dentures, implants, preventive care, restoration, pain relief, and emergency oral treatment and cannot be limited in institutional settings.
- States and the District of Columbia: Gets a 100 percent Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for dental expenditures for a 12-quarter period beginning January 1, 2027. The enhanced match is capped at 100 percent and excludes spending on items beyond the defined base or costs already covered or tied to Medicare cost-sharing.
- Territories and state flexibility: Territories may opt in and receive 100 percent FMAP for 12 quarters starting when they first cover the items. States may also choose to add additional dental items beyond the base benefit.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Temporary full federal dental match
If enacted, the federal match (FMAP) for Medicaid dental and oral health services would be 100 percent for a 12-quarter period. For the 50 States and DC, that period would begin January 1, 2027. For U.S. territories, the 12 quarters would begin the first quarter on or after January 1, 2027 when the service is first covered. The bill would exclude already-covered items and certain optional items from the increased match and would not count the extra territorial payments against territorial payment limits.
Mandatory adult dental coverage in Medicaid
If enacted, States would have to cover a defined set of adult dental and oral health services for Medicaid spending in calendar quarters starting January 1, 2027. The bill would define covered services to include dentures, implants, preventive and restorative care, pain relief, and emergency oral services when given by a licensed provider. Benchmark Medicaid plans would have to include these dental services starting January 1, 2027. The bill would let States add extra dental items at their option, but it would make the Medicaid requirement optional for U.S. territories.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov