Health and Fitness : HHS Announces Intent to Award New Dental Care Contracts

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the intent to award contracts to Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest USA Inc. to provide dental care to Iowa Medicaid members through Iowa's Dental Wellness Plan and Hawki.

Oral health is essential to health and well-being and this announcement is the latest move from HHS and Medicaid to transform and improve care for Iowans. This work includes thorough provider rate reviews and reinvestment in prevention programs and services focused on access to care. While dental care has been provided through a managed care model for several years, the previous managed care contracts for dental services have not had the same comprehensive review as HHS has done with other managed care contracts.

"This effort drives the innovation that is needed to provide high-quality services to Iowans," said Iowa Medicaid Director Elizabeth Matney. "In our review of Delta and DentaQuest's proposals, these plans demonstrated the capacity to coordinate care and improve outcomes for our members" explained Matney. "I am excited to have these partners join us as we work together to improve care and deliver on our strategic goals of improving Medicaid for the Iowans who rely on us for their care."

Delta Dental of Iowa is a current provider of dental services to Iowa Medicaid members.

Plans will offer diagnostic and preventative services like exams, cleanings, x-rays, and fluoride treatments, fillings, root canals, dentures, crowns, extractions and other benefits. More information is available at https://hhs.iowa.gov/dental-wellness-plan.

These new contracts begin July 1, 2024. Over the next eight months, Iowa Medicaid will work to onboard the two dental plans and to ensure they have built out their provider network and have systems in place to begin providing services to members from day one.

There are no immediate changes for current Medicaid members, and members do not need to take any action right now. Iowa Medicaid will communicate with members about their choices as we approach the July 1 launch.