Proposed budget will delay harmful cuts to Medi-Cal Dental, but still requires Governor Newsom sign off

Sacramento, CA - After continued advocacy and collaboration, the Save Our Dental Care Coalition praises the California State Legislature for passing a budget that protects access to Medi-Cal Dental for millions of patients by delaying sweeping cuts for one year. The legislature’s 2026-27 budget delays the cuts until July 1, 2027. 

“We are grateful to the legislature for fighting to prevent these cuts from taking effect. California must lead in protecting essential health care for the most vulnerable, not go back to funding levels from the 1990s,” said Dr. Robert Hanlon, President of the California Dental Association. “We appreciate the legislature standing up for the Medi-Cal Dental program as we continue working through difficult, uncertain budget circumstances.”

“Our broad and diverse coalition urges Governor Newsom to honor the delay to these dangerous, short-sighted cuts that would leave millions of Californians without access to dental care," added Hanlon.

Since the initial budget was released in January, the Department of Health Care Services has gone on the record saying that, “Dental problems don’t just cause pain—they interrupt learning, impact confidence, and widen achievement gaps…” And, an analysis from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information shows that people who can’t see a dentist for routine care often wait until the pain becomes unbearable and end up in the emergency room. But emergency rooms can only treat the symptoms—not the underlying dental problem—making this a more expensive and less effective form of care. 

“Access to dental care has been saved today, but the reality of these cuts on the horizon remains a serious threat that will reduce provider services, increase wait times, and make it even harder for patients to access regular dental care before small issues turn into costly emergencies,” said Julie Schurman, Esq., Director of Public Policy, The Arc of California. “For people with disabilities, who already face significant barriers to finding dental providers who can meet their needs, these cuts would have an especially devastating impact. California cannot afford to move backwards when it comes to protecting access to care for those who rely on it the most. We thank the Legislature for recognizing the importance of Medi-Cal Dental and prioritizing care for patients across California, and we look forward to continuing these conversations in the months ahead.”

The Coalition is now calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the budget and continue to work alongside dentists, physicians, patient advocates and community health organizations to protect access to dental care across the state. 

For more information about the coalition, visit https://www.saveourdentalcare.org/

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