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

State Budget Update

Last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 27) budget was presented to the legislature. In her Executive Recommendations, Governor Whitmer proposed an $88.1 billion budget. Her recommendation also proposes a $400 million withdrawal from the state’s rainy-day fund. Additionally, new revenue streams were proposed in an effort to raise additional

money to fund the state’s Medicaid program following the passage of H.R. 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The new revenue streams include increasing Michigan’s tobacco tax

rate, along with taxing vaping and non-tobacco nicotine products, taxing digital advertising across all media platforms, and updating Michigan's internet gaming, sports betting, and online gaming tax structure. These are estimated to create $780.4 million in additional revenue.

Of the $88.1 billion budget recommendation, the General Fund totals $13.6 billion, and the School Aid Fund totals $21.4 billion. You can access all executive budget recommendation materials on the State Budget Office website here.

In additional state budget news, the House Appropriation Subcommittee chairs announced they had been given budget targets for Fiscal Year 2027. Although House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) did not outline specific numbers, she did share that the highest budget threshold goal is lower than what we saw in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY 26)

budget.

House Republicans say they plan to address the projected $800 million January CREC shortfall without raising taxes. House Republican priorities for the upcoming budget include strengthening Michigan’s businesses and improving the education system, while cutting spending where possible.

As of this writing, the Senate has not yet announced that they reached targets for the upcoming fiscal year. Each chamber is expected to develop its respective budget proposals, negotiate them, and ultimately present a unified budget to the Governor before the statutory deadline of July 1. However, as we saw during budget negotiations for the current fiscal year (FY 26), conversations may continue throughout the summer and into the fall.

Dental and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact Bill Update

MOHC continues to support House Bill 4935, introduced by Representative Parker Fairbairn (R-Harbor Springs), is legislation to enter Michigan into the Dental and Dental Hygienist (DDH) Compact. This bill would allow dental professionals licensed in other compact member states to practice in Michigan under the compact’s licensure requirements.

Earlier this week, advocates met with Rep. Bill Schuette’s (R-Midland) office to discuss how the compact would help support the dental workforce and improve access to care in Michigan by reducing regulatory barriers. Rep. Schuette is the Chair of the House Rules Committee, where the bill is currently held. We anticipate further movement on the legislation in April.

Governor Whitmer Delivers Last State of the State Address

Recently, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her eighth and final State of the State address at the Capitol in Lansing. She started off her address calling for the timely passage of a balanced budget.

Governor Whitmer recapped her time in office, highlighting the work she has accomplished, emphasizing infrastructure and investment in Michigan’s students, and the progress made on various social issues. She most notably addressed lowering healthcare costs and protecting access to healthcare. She called for capping interest rates on medical debt, preventing medical debt from being reported on credit reports, requiring hospitals to set up financial assistance programs for patients, and putting a ban on liens and foreclosures on homes due to medical debt. In addition to reducing medical debt, the governor also discussed her budget proposal that would invest in Medicaid funding in order to protect Michigan's healthcare system.

Governor Whitmer’s prepared remarks can be found here, and you can watch the full address here.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (Porter Township) provided the GOP’s official response to Governor Whitmer’s address. Senator Nesbitt claimed that despite raising state spending and increasing taxes, many of Michigan’s roads have not been repaired. Senator Nesbitt also called out alleged instances of fraud under the Whitmer administration, the

decreasing literacy rate, and what Republicans see as a government overreach in Michigan's housing, childcare, and healthcare. You can watch his full response here.

Session Schedule Update

The House began its spring break on March 24, followed by the Senate on March 31. Both chambers are expected to return on April 14.

Policy Committee Update

As lawmakers begin their spring break, we encourage MOHC Policy Committee members to connect with their lawmakers in the district to discuss oral health priorities, most notably the importance of protecting Medicaid dental in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 27) budget.

MOHC Advocacy Day

Wednesday, May 13

State Capital, Lansing

MOHC Conference:
From Plan to Impact

Thursday-Friday, May 14-15

DoubleTree, Lansing

Now Accepting MOHC Award Nominations

Help us celebrate excellence in oral health advocacy, leadership, and innovation! The Michigan Oral Health Coalition is seeking nominations for individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact on oral health equity across the state.

Nominations for the 2026 MOHC Awards are open through Thursday, April 27, at 5 p.m., and winners will be recognized during our Annual Conference.

Please note: not all award categories may have a recipient.

Click here to learn more and nominate a deserving recipient.

Announcing the Michigan State Oral Health Plan 2030

The Michigan Oral Health Coalition and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with partners across the state, are proud to announce the release of the Michigan State Oral Health Plan 2030. This strategic plan outlines a shared roadmap for improving oral health across Michigan over the coming years.

The plan reflects the collective input of oral health professionals, public health leaders, community organizations, policymakers, and advocates working together to strengthen prevention, expand access to care, and support a sustainable oral health workforce. State oral health plans serve as a framework to coordinate efforts across sectors and guide policies and programs that improve population oral health outcomes.

The 2030 State Oral Health Plan builds on previous statewide planning efforts and focuses on practical strategies that partners can implement together to advance oral health equity and improve the health of all Michiganders. Through collaboration, data-driven decision making, and community engagement, this plan will guide collective action across Michigan.



Read the 2030 plan and learn how to get involved.

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 navigate the process with confidence. Have a question you’d like us to cover? Email us at: info@mohc.org

Q: Where can I find Michigan Medicaid dental reimbursement rates and coverage rules?

A: If you’re considering Medicaid participation (or trying to make it smoother for your team), two questions come up fast: “What does Medicaid pay?” and “What’s covered?” Michigan’s Dental Fee Schedule is the best place to start — it lists procedure codes and the associated fee screens (payment amounts). One important note: the fee schedule is about payment, and it doesn’t automatically mean a service is covered in every situation. For coverage details (documentation, billing indicators, limits), MDHHS points providers to the Medicaid Code and Rate Reference tool, which is accessed inside CHAMPS.

A second helpful step is confirming how the patient receives dental benefits: some patients are Fee-for-Service, while many who are 21 years and older are enrolled in a Medicaid Health Plan (MHP). If a patient is in an MHP, you may also need to follow that plan’s dental network processes and guidance. MDHHS maintains a hub for Medicaid Health Plan information (including county coverage resources). Dental services for Healthy Kids Dental beneficiaries under 21 years of age will be provided by Healthy Kids Dental (HKD).

Checklist (bookmark these):

• Check payment amounts: MDHHS Dental Fee Schedule
• Check coverage rules/limits: Michigan Medicaid Provider Manual (see the dental chapter)
• Need code-specific details (billing indicators/documentation): Use the Medicaid Code and Rate Reference tool in CHAMPS
• If a patient is in a Medicaid Health Plan: Use MDHHS Medicaid Health Plan resources (Michigan Medicaid Health Plan Listed by County)
• If a patient is in Healthy Kids Dental (HKD): More information can be found at the following website Healthy Kids Dental Program

Help Shape the Future of Oral Health in Michigan

MOHC is seeking applications for its Board of Directors.

We are looking for engaged leaders who are passionate about improving oral health and advancing equitable access to care across Michigan.

MOHC’s board members serve as ambassadors for oral health, helping guide the coalition’s strategic priorities, strengthen partnerships, and support initiatives that improve the health of communities across the state.

We encourage applications from individuals representing a wide range of sectors, including clinical care, public health, education, policy, community organizations, and advocacy.

If you are committed to advancing oral health in Michigan and would like to play a leadership role in this work, we invite you to apply.

Applications are open through April 30, 2026. Click here to apply.

The Michigan Oral Health Coalition is pleased to share our 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.

Click here to access the toolkit.



Click here to provide feedback on the toolkit.