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LD 2123

An Act To Improve Dental Care Access For Children By Modifying The Mainecare Reimbursement Methodology For The Provision Of Anesthesia For Certain Dental Services

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michelle Boyer and 8 co-sponsors

Maine increases MaineCare reimbursement for pediatric dental anesthesia to expand access to necessary dental care for low-income children.

Signed by Governor
#dentalcare #mainecare #medicaid
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Bill Summary · LD 2123

Legislative bill overview

LD 2123 modifies how Maine's Medicaid program (MaineCare) reimburses dental providers for administering anesthesia during certain pediatric dental procedures. The bill aims to increase access to necessary dental care for children by adjusting the reimbursement rates that dentists receive when providing anesthesia services.

Why is this important

Many children require anesthesia for dental procedures due to anxiety, age, or complexity of treatment, but limited reimbursement rates discourage providers from offering these services to Medicaid-eligible children. By improving reimbursement methodology, the bill seeks to expand the availability of comprehensive dental care for low-income families who rely on MaineCare coverage.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to state budget: Increased reimbursement rates will require additional MaineCare expenditures, which may compete with other healthcare priorities or require tax increases
  • Reimbursement rate adequacy: Stakeholders may disagree on whether the new rates are sufficient to meaningfully incentivize provider participation or if they remain uncompetitive compared to private insurance
  • Scope of "certain dental services": The bill's language about which procedures qualify for anesthesia reimbursement may be vague, potentially leading to disputes over coverage eligibility and administrative burden on providers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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