AB 1717: Medi-Cal dental reimbursement: house/extended care facility call.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified May 16, 2026

What AB 1717 does, verified May 16, 2026

This bill aims to increase Medi-Cal reimbursement for house/extended care facility calls to reflect the reasonable travel costs of delivering dental services in a patient's private residence or facility. The current maximum allowance is $20, which will be increased to a minimum of $120 per patient per date of service. The reimbursement rate will be adjusted every two years to account for inflation and provider cost data. The bill also requires the department to report on the impact of rate adjustments on access, utilization, and emergency department visits for dental conditions. The implementation of these provisions is contingent on an appropriation, federal approvals, and availability of federal financial participation.

Bill journey

1IntroducedCurrent

2In CommitteePending

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Asm. Leticia CastilloAuthor · California State Assembly

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Recent actions8 total · showing 5

May. 14, 2026	In committee: Held under submission.
May. 06, 2026	In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Apr. 27, 2026	Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Apr. 23, 2026	Read second time and amended.
Apr. 22, 2026	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 21).

Full action history, 3 earlier actionsConnect Plus

Latest bill textAmended version, April 23, 2026 · 577 words

Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1717

Introduced by Assembly Member Castillo

February 04, 2026

An act to add Section 14132.87 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1717, as amended, Castillo. Medi-Cal dental reimbursement: house/extended care facility call.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including certain dental services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.

Under the Medi-Cal Dental Provider Handbook, the maximum allowance for a house/extended care facility call under a specified billing code is $20.

This bill would require the department to increase the Medi-Cal reimbursement base rate for a house/extended care facility call in order to reflect the reasonable travel costs for purposes of delivering dental services in the patient’s private residence or applicable facility instead of the location of the dental provider. ~~The bill would require that the rate be adjusted to a minimum of $120 per patient per date of service, with subsequent readjustments every 2 years to account for inflation and provider cost data.~~

The bill would require the department, every 2 years, to report to the Legislature about the impact of the rate adjustments on access, utilization, and reductions in emergency department visits for dental conditions.

The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on an appropriation, receipt of any necessary federal approvals, and the availability of federal financial participation.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 14132.87 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

14132.87.

(a) The department shall increase the Medi-Cal reimbursement base ~~rate, as described in subdivision (b),~~ rate for a house/extended care facility call under Current Dental Terminology (CDT) Code D9410 or its successor, in order to reflect the reasonable travel costs for purposes of delivering dental services in the patient’s private residence or applicable facility instead of the location of the dental provider.

(b)(1)As soon as possible, subject to the implementation timeline under subdivision (e), the reimbursement base rate described in subdivision (a) shall be adjusted to a minimum of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) per patient per date of service.
~~(2)The reimbursement base rate shall thereafter be readjusted every two years to account for inflation and provider cost data, while not falling below the minimum threshold described in paragraph (1).~~

(c)(1)Every two years, the department shall report to the Legislature about the impact of the rate adjustments described in subdivision (b) on access, utilization, and reductions in emergency department visits for dental conditions.

~~(2)A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.~~

~~(d)~~

(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, in whole or in part, by means of provider bulletins, plan letters, or other similar instructions, without taking regulatory action.

~~(e)~~

(c) (1) This section shall be implemented subject to an appropriation made by the Legislature.

(2) This section shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and that federal financial participation is available and is not otherwise jeopardized.

Text of AB 1717 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions