Georgia Dental Association's 2026 Key Initiatives
Dental Insurance Reform: Over the last decade, Georgia has adopted several dental insurance reform laws. In the upcoming session, we will improve on those strides by refining existing law related to virtual credit cards.
Now/COMP Waivers: With the expansion of Adult Dental Medicaid, it has become increasingly difficult for the intellectually and developmentally disabled (I/DD) population to receive dental care. Prior to receiving coverage under Medicaid, I/DD patients utilized an individually directed benefit available through waiver supplemental services. With a drastic decrease in reimbursement and new administrative hurdles, dentists serving I/DD patients are looking for practical fixes that will allow them to continue to see these patients. We seek to reduce barriers to the best care possible for adults with special needs.
Dental Assisting Dual Enrollment Pathway: Thanks to Governor Kemp’s hard work to identify high demand careers, educating dental assistants is a new priority. We are working to create a dual enrollment pathway for high school students who want to start their journey in a dental career. A dual enrollment pathway will allow students to get their high school diploma and a dental assisting certificate at the same time, allowing them to propel their career forward.
Protecting Water Fluoridation: With an ongoing national conversation and two states ending community water fluoridation, Georgia Dental Association will remain grounded in the science which continues to show that fluoridate water at optimum levels is safe and effective. We are taking steps to remind the public, legislators, and our members of the significant public health benefits of community water fluoridation. We will oppose any legislation that seeks to remove Georgians’ access to optimally fluoridated water.
Distribution of Dentists: 40 counties in Georgia have less than two dentists. The Georgia Dental Association is continually looking at ways to enhance access to care in the underserved areas of Georgia.
Funding Requests: GDA annually advocates for increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to levels that are a fair price, equivalent to the cost of providing dental care plus the value of a dentists’ professional judgment. We will also be advocating for funding to support our upcoming Georgia Mission of Mercy (GMOM) events, and we will seek to preserve funding for the Georgia Dentist Education Loan Repayment Program and the Donated Dental Services Program.
