Appeals Court Overturns Earlier Decision to Prevent Medicaid Funding for DHATs

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has overturned a previous ruling that prevented Medicaid from covering services provided by dental health aide therapists (DHATs) on Tribal lands in the state of Washington. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services denied funding for Washington DHATs on January 20, 2021. The state of Washington and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community appealed that ruling on March 12, 2021. The ruling was overturned on January 12, 2023. The federal government will now fund the cost of DHAT providers for patients covered by Medicaid in Washington. DHATs are midlevel practitioners licensed to practice in Washington’s Tribal communities, which face significant barriers to accessing dental care. Click here to read more.