VDA Leader Warns Dental Advisory Committee of Impact of Workforce Challenges on Access to Dental Care
VDA Leaders, including President-elect Dr. Marlon Goad, CEO Ryan Dunn, Chair of the Council on Government Affairs Roger Palmer, and Director of Legislative and Public Policy Laura Givens participated in the Dental Advisory Committee meeting May 16, to receive updates from the Department of Medical Assistance Services and share member feedback on their experience with the dental Medicaid program.
The presentation from DentaQuest included updates on provider participation, utilization, and efforts to increase access for pregnant members and members with chronic conditions as well as to address causes of broken appointments and redirect non-traumatic emergency department dental visits to dental offices.
As of April 30, 2025, 2,375 dentists are participating in the program, representing 41% of Virginia’s practicing dentists.
May 16 DentaQuest Presentation to the DAC
Dr. Goad shared remarks on behalf of the Virginia Dental Association, calling attention to the impact of the ongoing and growing imbalance of dentists and dental hygienists on the ability of patients enrolled in Medicaid to schedule timely preventative dental appointments.
Noting that about 30 percent of the residents where he practices dentistry in Carroll County are enrolled in Medicaid, Dr. Goad said that Virginia’s shortage of preventative specialists has been growing in recent years, as we have been adding more than two dentists to the workforce for every one dental hygienist. He also said shortages in other parts of the state are impacting rural areas like his, as an increasing percentage of applicants at Wytheville Community College are coming from larger urban areas, which are also recruiting away hygienists with salaries that can’t be matched in rural practices that see a high percentage of Medicaid patients.
“We need a pathway to grow our preventative dental workforce to allow Virginians enrolled in Medicaid to see the true benefit of their coverage and to live lives free from dental pain and disease,” said Dr. Goad.
Dr. Goad also shared that the VDA and ADA have been actively following and participating in federal discussions around Medicaid. He encouraged DAC members to join in the ADA-led initiative to develop patient and provider stories in a “story bank” to advocate for protecting oral health in Medicaid programs.
May 16 DenaQuest Update to the DAC
