By Stephen Robertson, DMD, KDA Executive Director

As we have been discussing for some time, Medicaid is our primary focus in the upcoming 2026 legislative session. It is not our only issue, but it is at the forefront. Success moving forward could rely directly on your willingness to be involved. This is truly a group effort. As I have stated many times previously, Together We Thrive!

Now more than ever this caveat rings true. We stand at a definitive moment in time. The very future of the Dental Medicaid program may well be decided in the coming months. The unsustainably low reimbursement has reached the point that it is testing the resolve of the staunchest supporters of this access program. Many have already been forced to leave or greatly restrict availability for those enrolled in the Medicaid program. Small businesses should not be asked to work at an overwhelming loss to continue to provide care within this program. Almost 30 years of stagnation have brought us to this point: without significant movement, this program is in peril.

If you are a provider, you understand; If you are not, why should you care? Simply to allow dentistry to control its own destiny. If we can help restructure and rebuild this program, we have an opportunity to share our voice and knowledge in this process. If it collapses, many will decide they want or need to speak for us and these patients. We could face provider taxes, mandatory patient assignment, mid-level providers, the possibilities are endless. Add this to the fact our low Medicaid rates are responsible for our low insurer reimbursements, and you understand how this fight touches every provider.

Legislators are listening to us and are interested in working with us. We need to seize this moment and work together to pull this program up to where it should be. We are making a big ask, but the ADA has proven that simply bringing us forward with our skipped cost of living increases over these past few decades would outpace our current request. That is how far behind this program is.

We ask that you review the material in this issue, sign up for the text alert program to let you know when an email with a pertinent legislative update for action has been sent, and take a moment to send the letter or email requested, or call your legislator about the issue at hand. While you are at it sign up to support the KDPAC, allowing them to support our legislators.

Share our story with your colleagues, encourage them to join the ADA and KDA. While there are plenty of folks that seem to enjoy pointing to perceived problems, understand that the ADA and the KDA are the only organizations positioned to drive true change at the state and national level.

We continue to be successful in our legislative efforts in Kentucky. Over the past several years we have championed to return to work during COVID, passed numerous insurance reform bills (including assignment of benefits, which goes into effect January 1, 2026, allowing patients to see the provider of their choice,) and kept several negative bills from making it through.

It is time for the KDA and its members to focus on the successes and work of the association and bring more members back or into the fold. The best recruitment tool is dentist-to-dentist contact. Reach out, bring newer dentists to the meeting you attend, share what we are working on, and explain why they should support the KDA while we work to support them every day of their professional career.

With recent advent of the KDA3P program, we now have a tangible benefit that can more than cover your dues in a matter of a month or two. The savings members are reporting is eye-opening to say the least!

We are a membership organization that has ignored membership recruitment for too long. It is time to bring as many back as possible to the KDA or help them join for the first time. A unique program is available through the end of the year that allows these new or returning members to get credit for 2025 while joining for 2026 at 2025 dues. This is called the 15-for-12 initiative. If you speak to someone who shows interest, simply have them call the office and ask for me or Todd.

It’s for all of us to come together to move these two agendas forward; increase the membership of the KDA and push to significantly improve the Dental Medicaid program in Kentucky to allow more dentists to feel comfortable deciding to participate and bring access to this vulnerable population.

Together We Thrive! It is time for everyone to do their part and contribute to get this done!

Reach out to me directly with any questions or comments.

steve@kyda.org
270-565-4554