Turning Coverage Into Care: How Advocates Can Leverage Administrative Services Organization Contracts to Improve Medicaid Oral Health Benefits For Consumers

While Medicaid adult oral health coverage is foundational for ensuring that all people have access to quality, affordable care, it works only if people know they are eligible for oral health care, have sufficient access to providers, and can efficiently and effectively use their benefits. States often contract with Administrative Service Organizations (ASOs) to provide services in these areas. The contracting process between the state and the ASO is an important lever for making sure that coverage actually works as intended. To make services more user-friendly, oral health advocates can weigh in on current and proposed ASO dental contracts. This analysis provides background on what ASOs are, how advocates can get involved in ASO contracting, and some common types of contract provisions advocates can push for, using California as a case study.