1. Fundraiser for Rep Reyer and Sen. Bolden:  Please join CAD-MN for a fundraiser for Representative Liz Reyer and Senator Liz Bolden, both champions for Minnesota Critical Access Dental providers and the people we serve, at the home of Karen Kleinhans in Southwest Minneapolis Tuesday, September 29th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Please click on one or both of the QR codes to make a donation and to register for the event.  

2.  MDH’s request for proposal regarding Dental Safety Net Grant Program:  See additional information at ORHPC Grants and Funding – MN Dept. of Health
3. Center for Rural Policy and Development (CRPD) events:  See pathways after high school and other events at Events | Center for Rural Policy and Development

CAD-MN letter regarding UCare/DentaQuest Failures to Reimburse Critical Access Dental Providers

Please see enclosed the letter that has been sent by Dr. Sheila Riggs, Chair of the Board of Directors, CAD-MN in the first week of September to the following:

1. MN Department of Human Services (legal counsel)
2. DentaQuest
3. Court appointed rehabilitator for UCare/DentaQuest payment issue
4. Board of Directors, CAD-MN
5. Committee Chairs, CAD-MN

CAD-MN has been extremely active in raising the above issue in front of the concerned organizations by inviting key people from these organizations at the GAC and IAC meetings.  CAD-MN is also increasing our advocacy by sending letters to the concerned authorities so that our appeal is formally considered and to get a substantive response so that our members get reimbursed.

The letter is available here: https://cadmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CAD-MN-letter-regarding-UCare-DentaQuest-claims.pdf

dHPSA score improvements: Update

During recent IAC meetings, CAD MN members expressed deep concern by the recent dHPSA (dental Health Professions Shortage Areas) scores.  The scores came back disadvantaging our clinics in being eligible to hire dentists on National Health Service Corp scholarships.  The main driver of the concerning results was the use of an invalid count of MN dentists and an invalid count of MN dentists who see Medicaid patients. 

In response, CAD MN leadership met with the MN Dept of Health officials who are on the front lines of creating the dHPSA scores in concert with federal officials.  A path forward in calculating the correct count of MN dentists is now underway.   The other good news ~ as we get a valid count, updating a dHPSA score is fluid and can usually be accomplished in 90 days.   

MN Department of Health: Community Clinic Grant Program.

A request for proposal has been posted to the MDH Grants and Loan page. 

Learn more at Community Clinic Grant Program

Application Deadline:  October 30, 2026 

Request for proposals for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).  This program was created by H.R.1 (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) on July 4, 2025. It is a federal initiative to help states support rural communities in improving health care access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the health care delivery ecosystem. The RHTP focuses on promoting innovation, strategic partnerships, infrastructure development, and workforce investment in rural communities.

Applications Due: Sept 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Additional information at: New RHTP RFP: Telehealth Services

Update:  UCare bankruptcy rehabilitation

CAD-MN members requested that CAD MN take action to pressure the UCare rehabilitation process to distribute what our CAD provider members are owed from 2025 claims.  In response – Matthew Bergeron, our CAD-MN lobbyist, reached out to the general counsel of UCare. Please see the response that Matthew received below.   

Additionally, one of our CAD-MN members has also reached out to UCare.  With the permission from this member clinic, CAD-MN is letting all our members know the response this member clinic received from UCare (See below). 

Also, Dr. Riggs has been in conversation with a correspondent at the Star Tribune.   

CAD-MN will continue to update our members on this topic at the IAC meetings.  

Update from the UCare lawyer to Matthew: 

Matthew,
I had a chance to discuss your question with Examination Resources.   UCare is in the process of working on dental provider payments that would be paid through DentaQuest.  Our expectation is the next batch of payments will go out to dental providers in the next few weeks.  There are some details that are still being worked out and need final approval.  Once I have a more solid time frame for when the payments will arrive, I will make sure to send you a note to update you.

Response received from UCare by one of our member clinics:

Hello, 

The Rehabilitation Order requires that claims be paid by adjudication date. DentaQuest is unable to provide adjudication dates for the dental claims. Hence, once we determine the adjudication dates for the medical claims paid with the funds available for distribution, we will release dental claims that were billed to UCare up to and slightly beyond the last date for which medical claims were paid. We are in the process of determining the invoices for dental claims that can be paid with the funds released in July and August. We are hopeful that the payments will go out before the end of the month. 

Thank you, 

UCare in Rehabilitation

New online tool helps people with Medical Assistance prepare for federal work requirements coming in 2027

Information from the Department of Human Services.  People with Medical Assistance can find out now if they will need to meet 2027 federal work reporting requirements passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act with a new tool from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The tool is available through Aug. 31.  More information is available at Special edition: News from DHS 

Drs Riggs and Elmi on MPR:  If you missed listening to the conversation of Dr Riggs and Dr Elmi with Angela Davis on MPR news about dental care access, please click on the following link:  https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/07/29/breaking-down-barriers-to-dental-care 

CAD-MN helps with the visit of legislators to the clinics of our members: CAD-MN helped coordinate the visit of Rep. Pete Johnsonto Children’s Dental Services, Duluth. Rep. Johnson is part of the work force committee with the legislature.  Here is what Erianna Perrin from Children’s Dental Services shared with us after the visit.  “The visit was great! Rep. Johnson was more than willing to help us with any work force issues.  We specifically discussed the National Health Service Corp numbers issue and the massive impacts this is having on dental safety nets.  We also discussed the lack of dental work force serving underserved communities across Minnesota, particularly in rural Minnesota and he said that he willing to help in any way he can.”  Rep. Johnson also said that he will work with CAD-MN lobbyist, Mattherw Bergeron, and help us support our legislative priorities.   

CAD-MN provides excellent support for the legislative visits to the clinics of our members.  Erianna said that “CAD-MN helped set up the visit with Rep. Johnson, they provided me with excellent 1-pagers/documents showing our policy platform and about the excellent work CAD-MN does, and I was able to provide this to Rep Johnson who was really interested to learn about the work we are doing.  CAD-MN’s Policy Director, John Pournoor provided me with customized content about Rep Johnson and this was very useful as I was able to bring up specific things that I knew he would want to be part of such as his strong connection to the Iron Range and work force issues across Rural MN.” 

CAD-MN will continue to coordinate and support the visit of your legislators to your clinics to advance our legislative priorities.  If you need more information and want to be part of this effort, please reach out to CAD-MN’s Executive Director, Anila Prabhu.