CMS Report Concludes Texas Dentists Getting Care to Children During COVID-19

In September 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a snapshot report titled “Service use among Medicaid & CHIP beneficiaries age 18 and under during COVID-19.” Although the report shows that dental care utilization for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP is lower nationwide, Texas was one of 5 states showing significant improvement in children accessing dental care beginning in May 2020. This is due in part to TDA’s direct communication and advocacy efforts with the governor and his team that enabled dental practices to reopen on May 1st—a full 2 weeks earlier than the governor initially planned.