Protect Dental Care for California’s Kids

Governor Newsom’s proposed $861 million cut to Medi-Cal Dental will threaten kids dental health and increase expensive ER visits.

Nearly half of California’s children depend on Medi-Cal Dental for routine dental care, yet a proposed 43% cut in provider payments threatens to push many dentists out of the program—forcing families into emergency rooms at an average cost of $2,453 per visit.

Cut fees for anesthesia services by 62%¹ for special needs children and others requiring dental care under general anesthesia, making it nearly impossible for clinics to offer this vital treatment.

Key facts:

47.6% of Medi-Cal Dental-enrolled kids see a dentist each year (versus the state’s 60% goal)
10 counties in California currently have no Medi-Cal Dental providers
Every $1 spent on preventive dental care saves $8–$50 in future treatments

Restoring Proposition 56 funding would keep nearly 13,000 dentists in the Medi-Cal Dental program and preserve $529 million in federal matching dollars—ensuring kids get the care they need, avoiding painful emergencies, and saving taxpayers money in the long run.

¹ Source: Choice Healthcare Services

Take Action

Please sign our petition today to demand that state leaders restore Prop 56 funding for Medi-Cal Dental.

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2 Total Letters: 

Letter 1: Hands Off Children's Healthcare

Dear [Legislator Title & Name],

I am a constituent from [Your City], CA, and I’m writing to urge you to protect essential dental care for California’s children by stopping the proposed $861 million in cuts to Medi-Cal Dental. 

These cuts will lead to the closure of dental offices and will have devastating consequences and will ultimately cost the state more in emergency care and long-term health impacts.

Half of California’s kids rely on Medi-Cal Dental. These cuts will leave them without care, slash dentist payments by 43%, and drive more children into costly emergency rooms, where the average visit costs $2,453. Cutting $331 million in state funds will also cost us $529 million in federal support.

California has made progress, growing the number of Medi-Cal Dental dentists from fewer than 10,000 in 2017 to nearly 13,000 in 2024. But this progress is fragile. Ten counties still have no providers, and only 47.6% of enrolled children use their dental benefits annually.

Proposition 56 was passed to fix this system. Let’s not go back to a broken one. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $8 to $50 later. I urge you to stand with families in your community and across the state. Protect Medi-Cal Dental and protect California’s children.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Letter 2: *Assemblymember Krell* Don’t Let California Kids Lose Their Dental Care 

Dear [Legislator Title & Name],

I’m following up from [Your City], CA to urge you again: please stop the proposed cuts to Medi-Cal Dental that would put children’s health at risk.

These cuts would eliminate $331 million in state funding and cost us $529 million in federal support. They would also slash payments to dentists, driving more providers out of the program and pushing families into ERs, where a single visit costs over $2,400.

Thanks to Prop 56, Medi-Cal Dental has made real progress. Dentist participation is up. More kids are getting care. But that progress is fragile, and 10 counties still have no providers.

Every dollar spent on prevention saves California far more in future costs. Don’t undo what’s working. Stand with families and protect Medi-Cal Dental.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Messages to elected officials will be sent at the optimal moment for the campaign.

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