with policymakers, protects patient safety and advances the interests of dental professionals. Together, grassroots advocacy and PAC giving turn concerns into action and action into results.
THANK YOU
None of these efforts would be pos- sible without the commitment of Missouri’s dental champions. On behalf of you and because of you, the MDA has been able to successfully pass legislation, maintain or secure increases in dental appropriations and defend against policies that would have weakened practice autonomy and patient care. Your continued engagement, whether through tours, grassroots outreach, or contributions to MODentPAC, ensures that den- tistry’s voice remains strong in Jeffer- son City. Thank you for standing with us and for helping shape a healthier future for all Missourians.
Grace is a lobbyist with Gamble & Schlemeier Governmental Consultants, the longtime MDA lobby firm and is Legislative Liaison to the MDA. Contact her at
grace@molobby.com
MDA Sets 2026 Legislative Agenda A
t its September meeting, the MDA Board of Trustees approved the fol- lowing 2026 MDA Legislative agenda.
Updates will be provided as the session begins. For now, we ask members to save the date to attend the 2026 Dental Day at the Capitol to advocate for these issues. It is Wednesday, March 4 in Jefferson City.
DENTAL MEDICAL LOSS RATIO
Background: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established that major medical plans pay certain percentages of the collected premi- ums for medical care vs. administrative costs. For example, large group plans must spend at least 85 percent of their collected premiums on care delivered to patients and no more than 15 percent can be spent on administra- tive costs and profit. No such requirement exists for dental plans which are considered “excepted benefits.” This legislation was filed in 2024 and 2025. It was referred to com- mittee in 2025, but due to lack of data from other states, it failed to pass.
Looking Ahead: In 2026, MDA will re-file the legislation. Our lobby team is currently working to identify bill sponsors and hopes to pre-file the legislation in December. The ADA has stated there should be good data coming from states who are enacting DLRs.
ORAL PREVENTIVE ASSISTANT EFDA DR. JEN WHEELER,
CHESTERFIELD, recently met in her practice with Representative Ben Keathley to discuss oral health topics and MDA priorities. This is one example of our members hosting an office tour. We appreciate her and others’ advocacy for MDA and for dentistry in Missouri.
Background: In 2021, the MDA formed an exploratory workforce committee charged with investigating workforce shortages within Missouri’s dental community and possible so- lutions. One solution is a type of scaling den- tal assistant. The creation of this new health care role — the Oral Preventive Expanded Function Dental Assistant (OPA/OPA-EFDA) — must be done through the state’s dental practice laws. The rule was promulgated for the pilot project by the Missouri Dental Board and in March of this year, patients started to be seen through the clinical trial portion of the pilot. Data collection has been ongoing since then and a report to the Dental Board will be provided by the end of 2025. Read the pilot project update on page 13 of this issue.
APPROPRIATIONS
Background: During the 2025 legislative ses- sion, through MDA advocacy, the following 2026 budget items were successful: increas- ing from $90,000 to $180,000 for Donated Dental Services; maintaining $400,000 for Elks Mobile Dental Services; maintaining the 2022 historic rate increase for Missouri Medicaid dental providers (80 percent of 50th percentile of UCR); increasing general Medical Anesthesia rates.
Looking Ahead: We will continue our ad- vocacy with the House and Senate budget committees to request maintaining funding for these dental items again in FY27.
DENTIST & DENTAL HYGIENIST LICENSURE COMPACT
Background: The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, finalized in 2022 by the Department of Defense and Council of State Governments, is a legally binding agree- ment among states that provides a pathway through which dentists and dental hygien- ists can obtain compact privileges which authorize practice in states where they are not licensed. A state must enact the compact model legislation through the state’s legisla- tive process to join the Compact. Dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in one compact member state can practice in an- other participating state by obtaining a com- pact privilege. There currently are 10 states that have joined the Compact, with two more pending. In 2025, the Association of Dental Service Organizations (ADSO) put forth legis- lation for Missouri to enter the compact. The legislation was close to the finish line, but failed to pass due to uncontrollable circum- stances in the last week of session.
Proposed 2026: The ADSO has confirmed they will re-file this legislation. Because this is not our agenda item, the MDA will monitor this legislation and offer appropriate support.
Looking Ahead: In 2026, MDA will continue to move forward with creating the OPA to be permanently placed into laws in the State of Missouri.
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