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Governor’s January Budget Slashes Medi-Cal Dental for Kids, Triggering $180 Million Loss in Federal Funds

  • Writer: Think Big
    Think Big
  • 3 days ago
  • 3 min read

SACRAMENTO—A growing coalition of dentists, educators, farmworkers, community leaders, and local elected officials is calling on state lawmakers to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed cuts to Medi-Cal Dental for children. The budget proposed Friday would eliminate an estimated $144 million in Medi-Cal Dental funding for kids, triggering the loss of approximately $182 million in federal matching funds and contributing to painful toothaches that are the leading cause of missed school days and a driver of costly emergency room visits.


The proposed cut is especially troubling given that the projected state deficit is just $2.9 billion, less than 1% of California’s overall budget. Balancing the budget on children’s oral health is misguided fiscal policy that will create higher costs down the line.


California already ranks among the worst states for pediatric dental disease, behind Alabama and Florida. The proposed cut would be especially felt by children in low-income communities in the Central Valley, Central Coast, and rural Northern California. The state has seen the consequences of similar decisions before. When California previously eliminated dental benefits, emergency room visits for dental problems climbed sharply, spiking state costs by nearly 70 percent before the state restored coverage.


“Cutting Medi-Cal Dental for kids is shortsighted and dangerous,” said Dr. Jeff Jacobson, a Sacramento-based dentist. “These reductions will force providers out of the system, leave children without preventive care, and push more families into emergency rooms. As a dentist, I want to keep caring for Medi-Cal kids, but the state has to make care feasible for providers.”


Dental pain is one of the most common yet preventable health care needs among California’s children. More than half of third-graders in California have experienced tooth decay by age nine, and nearly a quarter have untreated cavities. Untreated decay causes pain, difficulty eating, and infections, which in children lead to missed school days and lasting developmental harm. Children without regular dental visits are far more likely to require urgent care. Emergency room visits for dental issues commonly cost more than $2,400 per visit, placing a preventable strain on families and the health care system.


The impact is not limited to children’s health. Dental issues remain the most common reason children miss school. Pain from untreated cavities affects eating, sleeping, concentration, and learning. An estimated 351,000 children and teens in California missed at least one school day in 2022 because of dental problems. Most missed more than one day. Combined, these absences totaled about 900,000 days last year due to dental problems, costing California school districts approximately $60 million. Low-income children of color are most affected, and advocates say the long-term academic consequences are often overlooked.


Below is a comprehensive list of individuals and organizations involved with Hands Off Kids’ Health, with more joining every day.


Dental Providers:


  • Smile America

  • Altura Centers for Health

  • Kids2Dentist

  • Kids Dental Place

  • Big Smiles

  • Children Primary Dental

  • Family Health Centers of San Diego

  • CSC Health, San Diego


Community Advocacy Groups:


  • Si Se Puede, Kern Kings Fresno Tulare

  • California Farmworker Foundation

  • Central Valley Latino Mayors & Elected Officials Coalition

  • Latin Business Association

  • The Cambodian Family Community Center

  • Orange County Asian & Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)

  • El Concilio

  • Parenting Network, Inc.

  • Central Valley Yemen Society

  • Northern Valley Yemen Society

  • Visalia Democratic Club

  • CSC Chinatown Service Center


Local Elected Officials and Community Leaders:


  • Kenneth DeJonge, Board Member, Visalia Unified School District

  • Anna Ramirez, Board Member, Turlock Unified School District

  • Estella Kessler, Board Member, Selma Unified School District

  • Joel Fedor, Board Member, Selma Unified School District

  • Maria Cantu, Board Member, Kerman Unified School District

  • Ben Prado, Vice Mayor, City of Dinuba

  • Dr. Kuldip Thusu, Councilmember, City of Dinuba

  • John Trujillo, Councilmember, City of Selma

  • Diego Garza, Councilmember, City of Parlier

  • Daniel Martinez, Councilmember, City of Sanger


 
 
 
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