The Michigan Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) works to create a large, interconnected network of national, state and local advocates dedicated to working collaboratively on advocacy, education and awareness of oral health. We strive to keep our members informed on topics relevant to today's oral health advocates. The mission of MOHC is to equitably optimize oral health for all Michiganders.

Legislative Update

Legislature Gavels Back in for New Year

The Michigan State House and Senate gaveled back in for the second year of the 2025-2026 legislative session on Wednesday, January 14. The House and Senate have largely returned to a normal legislative schedule, conducting committee hearings and moving bills on the floor.

CREC Reveals Lower Revenues for Upcoming Fiscal Year

On January 16, state economic leaders gathered for Michigan’s January Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC). The CREC takes place in January and May each year to discuss independent economic and revenue forecasts that inform decisions about the state budget.

The CREC's overall assessment is that state revenues are down by $779.4 million for the current fiscal year (FY 26) relative to the May 2025 consensus estimate. For the upcoming FY 2026-27, revenues were revised $1.1 billion below the May 2025 consensus estimate. These decreases are the result of recent tax policy changes, including Michigan’s gas tax changes, federal tax policy changes, and slower economic activity. 

The School Aid Fund (SAF) is expected to be stable, while the GF/GP is a little more sluggish. However, most of this is expected and not a reflection of the broader economy. The road funding deal passed last fall, the removal of taxes on tips and overtime pay, and other tax changes accounted for the bulk of the decrease.

You can access the presentations and materials from the CREC here

Judge Freezes Work Project Spending

Prior to the year's adjournment in December, policy movement came to a halt after the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee voted to exercise its authority under state statute to disapprove $645 million in work project spending. A work project is a one-time, non-recurring item that allows departments to carry forward unspent money into subsequent fiscal years.

On January 7, Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a legal opinion declaring the portion of the state law that allowed the House Appropriations Committee to disapprove of proposed work projects to be unconstitutional. In response to the AG’s opinion, House Republicans filed a lawsuit against the state in the Michigan Court of Claims to prevent departments from issuing the money. Judge Michael Gadola granted a preliminary injunction, blocking the state from spending work project funds. It has been hinted that the House Republicans are likely to prevail in this case, meaning the money will need to be reappropriated by the legislature.

State of the State Scheduled

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced she will deliver the State of the State address on February 25 at 7 p.m. This can be viewed on local TV channels and online at: michigan.gov/StateOfTheState.

Regulatory Update

Michigan Licenses First Dental Therapist

On January 8, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a press release highlighting that the state’s first dental therapist has been licensed and is now practicing in the Upper Peninsula. MDHHS is also assisting with the development of a dental therapy training program to increase the number of dental therapists in the state and expand access to dental care for all Michiganders.

Policy Committee Update

The MOHC Policy Committee has finalized our policy priorities document for 2026. At this time, we are also finalizing our Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget document, which will include our members' oral health related asks for the upcoming fiscal year.

Scholarship and Loan Repayment Options

Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana and the Delta Dental Foundation are offering a suite of scholarship and loan repayment options for dentists and dental hygienists, including:

• A loan repayment program to support private practice dentists in underserved communities (up to $40,000 per year, up to five years). At least 15% of the dentist’s patients must be covered by Medicaid each year.
• A loan repayment program for dentists (up to $25,000 per year, up to three years) who commit to working in nonprofit clinics.
• A loan repayment program for dental hygienists (up to $5,000 per year, up to three years) who commit to working in nonprofit clinics.
• Scholarships for dental hygiene students to cover tuition costs (up to $15,000 per year for up to two years).
  

The goals are simple: help make dental hygiene school a reality for would-be students and reduce the financial burden on dentists and dental hygienists committed to serving underserved communities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Applications are now open. For full details or to apply, visit: https://resources.deltadentalmi.com/Loan-Repayment

Michigan Medicaid Dental Corner

Welcome to our new Michigan Medicaid Dental Corner! 

Michigan’s Medicaid dental benefit has expanded in recent years—bringing higher reimbursement, broader coverage (including services like crowns, endodontics, and periodontal therapy), and fewer administrative barriers for certain services. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d like to become a Medicaid provider, but I don’t know where to start,” this section is for you.

Each month, we’ll answer one practical question to help Michigan dental teams better understand Medicaid dental and confidently navigate the process. Have a question you’d like us to cover? Email us at: info@mohc.org

Q: How do I get started as a Michigan Medicaid dental provider?

To see patients with Michigan Medicaid, your first step is enrolling in CHAMPS (Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System)—Michigan’s online system used for provider enrollment and claims. Some providers also choose to see patients whose dental coverage is managed through a Medicaid Health Plan (MHP) (a health plan that administers Medicaid benefits for many enrollees). If that applies to your practice, there may be an additional step to connect with the plan(s) serving your county.

Want the official step-by-step details and resources?

Visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid Dental provider page: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/medicaid

Quick Glossary and Links:

• CHAMPS: Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System — Michigan’s online system for provider enrollment and claims.
• MILogin: Michigan’s login portal used to access CHAMPS
• SIGMA: The State of Michigan vendor system used for payments for some provider types.
• MHP: Medicaid Health Plan — a health plan that administers Medicaid benefits for many enrollees.

Cannabis Use in Patients

As cannabis use becomes more common — whether smoked, vaped or consumed as edibles — the most consistently reported oral effect is dry mouth (xerostomia). There is a biologic rationale: a 2022 study in Scientific Reports found that cannabinoid CB1 receptors help regulate salivation. Clinically, reduced salivary flow can move a patient into a higher caries-risk category by lowering buffering capacity, reducing remineralization support and decreasing mechanical clearance. Risk may be compounded by increased snacking (“munchies”) and, for some patients, frequent exposure to sugar-containing edibles or beverages.

From an evidence standpoint, the most consistent signals for clinicians remain dry mouth and periodontal concerns, while associations with caries and oral cancer have been more mixed in earlier literature. More recently, a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2015-2018 data published in The Journal of the American Dental Association reported that frequent recreational cannabis use (at least monthly in the past 12 months) was associated with a 17% higher probability of untreated coronal caries, 55% higher odds of untreated root caries and 41% higher odds of severe tooth loss, even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and alcohol use. Practical takeaways for dental teams include routinely documenting cannabis use (route and frequency), screening for dry mouth and caries risk, counseling on diet and sugar exposure, and strengthening prevention with optimized fluoride strategies and shorter recare intervals when indicated.

EPA News and Water Fluoridation Research

EPA Fluoridation Announcements

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Survey as the first step in a new fluoride human health toxicity assessment. This is not a regulation and does not change EPA’s current drinking water standard for fluoride; public comment is open through February 27, 2026.

Take action: Submit a public comment via Regulations.gov

Quick Links:

• EPA overview page
• Notice in the Federal Register
• Preliminary Assessment Plan & Literature Survey (PDF)
• January 28 informational webinar slides (PDF)

CWF and Birth Outcomes

New research published in JAMA Network Open, analyzing a cohort of more than 11 million births using decades of national data and a rigorous study design, found no link between community water fluoridation and adverse birth outcomes. The research is a relevant and important finding as conversations around fluoridation continue.

Read the full article

CWF and Cognition Across the Life Course

Using a nationally representative U.S. cohort, a Science Advances study found that adolescents exposed to recommended, typical levels of fluoride in drinking water scored modestly higher on cognitive tests in secondary school after adjusting for confounders. When participants were assessed again around age 60, that cognitive advantage was smaller and no longer statistically significant. Read the full article

Projected Outcomes of Removing CWF

New modeling in JAMA Health Forum estimates that removing community water fluoridation from U.S. public water systems would increase children’s tooth decay prevalence by about 7.5 percentage points (≈25.4 million additional decayed teeth) and add roughly $9.8 billion in dental costs over 5 years, with the biggest harms falling on publicly insured and uninsured children.

Read the full article

The Michigan Oral Health Coalition is pleased to share the new Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) Toolkit—an evidence-based resource designed to support communities across Michigan. The toolkit includes practical guidance, customizable outreach materials, educational resources, and policy tools to help communities understand, communicate, and sustain fluoridation efforts.

With resources ranging from social media content and fact sheets to community assessment tools and policy guidance, the toolkit offers a clear, step-by-step framework for addressing misinformation, building public trust, and strengthening long-term support for one of the safest, most equitable, and cost-effective public health interventions. 

MOHC Advocacy Day

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

State Capital, Lansing

MOHC Annual Conference

Thursday-Friday, May 14-15, 2026

DoubleTree, Lansing