Dental Services - Qualification for Maryland Dent-Care Program

SB 456 updates eligibility for Maryland's Dent-Care Program, requiring dentists and dental hygienists to treat at least 30% of patients as Maryland Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) recipients annually while working in private practice or clinics. It allows part-time employment for program participants (previously required full-time) and establishes prorated grant amounts for part-time providers. The bill also mandates a study by Maryland Insurance Administration on whether dental insurance carriers use online credentialing systems, with findings due to legislative committees by December 2025. These changes directly affect dentists and dental hygienists seeking loan assistance under the program.