Making CHIP Work for Kids: Changes in State CHIP Dental Coverage Subsequent to CHIPRA

In December of 2011, the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Policy Center (Policy Center) released CHIP Dental Coverage: An Examination of State Oral Health Benefit Changes as a Result of CHIPRA (available here), a brief reviewing the approved and pending SPAs as of May 2011. It examined the SPAs for evidence of changes made to comply with CHIPRA and sought to elucidate factors that may affect state decisions, now and in the future. This document is meant to be a response to the Policy Center brief and provides recommendations to CMS for ensuring that future SPAs adhere to the requirements of comprehensive dental coverage as defined in the 2009 statute.

While regulations on the CHIPRA pediatric dental benefit are currently being drafted, this document provides background information and resources for state policymakers to review what has been done to date in specific states and better understand the opportunities in CHIPRA and ACA to improve access to and affordability of dental coverage for working families.