G-2101-16624

The Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC), the state’s leading non-governmental oral health policy and advocacy organization, works to improve the health of all Marylanders through increased oral health promotion, disease prevention, education, advocacy and access to oral health care. Maryland Dental Action Coalition will advocate for several Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit Pilot expansions and policy adjustments in Maryland. With the Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit just being established in 2019 for dual-eligible adults, the Maryland Dental Coalition sees opportunities for expanded Medicaid eligibility criteria, potential expansion of services covered by the Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit, and functional opportunities to advance health equity and integrated health systems as priority of the benefit moving forward. Maryland Dental Action Coalition will also support the implementation of an expanded postpartum dental benefit (60 days, consistent with medical coverage) that was established in 2020, and lastly, establish a Maryland Commission on Health Equity. DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement (DentaQuestPartnership) has supported Maryland Dental Action Coalition in amounts ranging from $5,000-$202,886 since 2009. Budget line items for 2021 include staff time and campaign-related office supplies.