CHIP and Children's Medicaid Dental Services

Notice:  HHSC has delayed the restriction that a Medicaid client must be served by their assigned main dentist through May 31, 2012. [Read Announcement (DOC)]

Right now, children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) get managed care dental services through a dental plan. Beginning March 1, 2012, most children and young adults age 20 and younger enrolled in Medicaid also will start getting dental services through a dental plan. There will be three dental plans to choose from. 

Some people will continue to get dental services the same way they do now:

• People with Medicaid age 21 and older
• All Medicaid clients, regardless of age, who live in Medicaid-paid facilities such as nursing homes, state supported living centers, or Intermediate Care Facilities for Mentally Retarded Persons (ICFs/MR)
• Children and young adults in the state’s foster care program who are enrolled in STAR Health 

Client Resource Materials

• Children’s Medicaid Dental Services Enrollment Packet
• Children’s Medicaid Dental Services Welcome Letter
• Common Questions: Medicaid Dental Services for Children

Provider Resource Materials

• Children’s Medicaid and CHIP Dental Services provider presentation—September 2011
• Dental Plan Provider Representatives
• Texas Medicaid Bulletin: “Changes Coming for Medicaid and CHIP Dental Services Beginning March 1, 2012”