Citing Low Reimbursement Rates from Denti-Cal, Western Dental to Stop Taking New Denti-Cal Patients at 13 California Offices

ORANGE, Calif., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Citing low reimbursement rates, Western Dental announced today that it will stop taking new patients with Denti-Cal coverage at 13 more of its California offices beginning June 1, 2015, and that it will close one office in San Francisco.

The company previously announced it would not be accepting Denti-Cal patients at three of its new offices in the state.

"For more than 50 years, Western Dental has been able to serve all Californians, including those most in need and covered by the state Denti-Cal program," said Simon Castellanos, CEO and President of Western Dental. "However, the extremely low funding and reimbursement levels for the state program have finally proven impossible to bear." Western Dental is the state's largest provider of dental care services to low-income families. Mr. Castellanos reiterated, "We want to continue being a strong partner with the state and we are hopeful that the Governor and Legislature will pass a budget that will enable more providers like us to maintain the oral care that so many California children and adults need."

Beginning June 1, the company will stop accepting new Denti-Cal patients at 13 offices. At this time, returning patients with Denti-Cal will be able to continue care in their existing office.  

The company also announced that it's planning to close its Market Street office in San Francisco at the end of June and is in the process of closing one additional office later this year.

Denti-Cal is the dental program for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Reimbursement rates for dental procedures have not been adjusted for inflation since 2001 and were cut another 10 percent in 2013. Reimbursement rates have plummeted to about one-third of the 2011 national average.

ABOUT WESTERN DENTAL:
One of the nation's largest dental providers, Western Dental (with its affiliate, Brident Dental & Orthodontics) is the leader in accessible, affordable oral health care, serving nearly one million patients annually in over 200 affiliated clinics throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. Informed by the latest research, Western Dental is committed to delivering high-quality general, orthodontic and specialty dental services in state-of-the art facilities. All of Western Dental's services are backed by a unique quality assurance system, which electronically monitors all patient visits, treatments, dental staff and clinical performance to enable high-quality care. For more information please visit WesternDental.com and Brident.com.

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SOURCE Western Dental