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H 3987

Zion Baptist Church, 160th anniversary

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Requires dentists to accept a minimum portion of MassHealth patients (at least 5% of caseload) to maintain licensure status and provides incentives and penalties to enforce access.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3987

Summary: Bill H. 3987 — An Act relative to ensuring access to dental care for MassHealth recipients

Overview

House Bill 3987 proposes to increase MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) access to dental care by linking a portion of dental licenses to participation in MassHealth, establishing incentives for providers, and creating tools to help recipients find participating dentists. The bill sets minimum MassHealth patient participation requirements, provides enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, and includes emergency treatment protections for MassHealth beneficiaries.

Key dates:
- Introduced: April 3, 2025
- Hearing: July 15, 2025 (Gardner Auditorium)
- Senate concurrence: April 7, 2025
- Reporting date extension: Extended to March 18, 2026
- Takes effect: 180 days after passage

Sponsors: Rep. Kip A. Diggs (primary) and Rep. Vanna Howard (cosponsor)

What the bill aims to accomplish

  • Increase the share of MassHealth patients treated by licensed dentists in the Commonwealth.
  • Improve transparency and access to participating providers for MassHealth recipients.
  • Provide financial and educational incentives to encourage dentists to participate in MassHealth sustainably.

Key provisions

Minimum MassHealth participation requirement for dentists

  • Section 52H would require a licensed dentist to agree to accept a minimum percentage of MassHealth patients as part of their active patient base.
  • The minimum percentage is to be determined by the Department (in consultation with the Executive Office) and must be at least 5% of a provider’s total patient caseload.
  • Providers must annually document compliance with this minimum to the Department.
  • The Department may grant hardship exemptions or adjustments based on practice size, geography, or other factors.

Enforcement and penalties

  • Dentists who fail to meet the requirement could face:
    • Suspension of their license to practice dentistry by the Board (under existing license-suspension authority) until compliance is achieved, or
    • Administrative penalties determined by the Department.

Transparency and access tools

  • The Executive Office must develop an online portal to:
    • Help MassHealth recipients locate participating dental providers by region.
    • Provide transparency on dentist participation rates and available services.

Incentives to participate

  • Student loan forgiveness: For newly licensed dentists who meet or exceed the MassHealth participation requirement for at least three years (subject to appropriation).
  • Increased reimbursement: Enhanced MassHealth reimbursement rates for participating dentists to support financial sustainability.

Emergency care provision

  • In emergencies, any licensed dentist may treat a MassHealth recipient regardless of MassHealth participation status.
  • Eligible emergencies include acute dental pain, infection, or trauma requiring immediate intervention.
  • Reimbursement in emergencies: standard MassHealth rate plus 10% for services rendered within 60 days.

Implementation and reporting

  • The Executive Office will promulgate implementing rules and regulations.
  • An annual report (due by December 31) must cover:
    • Number of dentists participating by region
    • Percentage of MassHealth patients served relative to the state’s dental care needs
    • Recommendations to address gaps in access
  • Reports must be submitted to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health and to the clerks of the House and Senate.

Who is affected

  • MassHealth recipients seeking dental care
  • Dentists and dental practices in Massachusetts
  • Board of Registration of Dentistry
  • Department of Public Health
  • Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Timeline and process notes

  • 180-day effective date after passage
  • Periodic updating of the MassHealth participation minimum by the Department
  • Annual reporting to legislative leadership and clerks

This bill seeks to create a formal link between MassHealth participation and dental licensure, while offering incentives and protections to ensure emergency access and ongoing provider participation.

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

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