Episode 6: Medicaid, Medicare, and the Future of Pediatric Dentistry in New Jersey

Episode Summary:

New Jersey’s pediatric oral-health safety net is being tested. Between stagnant reimbursement rates, shrinking networks, administrative friction, and looming coverage loss tied to OBBA-related changes, providers face mounting pressure to keep doors open for the children and families who need them most.
In this episode of NJ Word of Mouth, Dr. Suffiyah Webb and Dr. Sidney Whitman unpack the real-world economics and policy mechanics behind Medicaid and Medicare in NJ. We dig into reimbursement realities, network adequacy and access-to-care gaps, prior auth and denial trends, and what OBBA-driven shifts could mean for pediatric practices and hospital programs in the coming year. Most importantly, we explore practical strategies to help Medicaid-serving practices survive—and even stabilize—without abandoning vulnerable patients.