Foley Team Represents Dental Hygienists in Suit Over Changes to California’s Medicaid Plan

A team of Foley attorneys is representing a group of dental hygienists who are suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over its approval of changes to California’s Medicaid Plan that they contend effectively limit access to critical dental care by California’s elderly and Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities.

The suit, filed Jan. 19, alleges that California’s new preauthorization process and 58 percent rate cut to periodontal maintenance (a treatment for gum disease) often leave California’s institutional Medi-Cal recipients without critical dental care.

The suit also alleges that HHR’s “arbitrary approval of unwarranted and onerous procedural hurdles” to the provision of periodontal care to patients and the “devastating” 58 percent rate cut “has resulted in a complete denial of periodontal maintenance to thousands of Medi-Cal beneficiaries who reside in skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities.”

A team of Foley attorneys led by Partner Lori Rubin is representing the plaintiffs, along with lawyers from the AARP Foundation. The Foley team also includes Senior Counsel Adam Hepworth and Associate Danny Sturm.