Virginia Health Catalyst

04/29/2026

Reminder: Capitol to Clinic is TOMORROW — April 30, 1:00 PM

Catalyst's own Lauren Eggleton, Senior Policy Manager, will help break down the 2026 General Assembly session. Join us from 1 to 2:15 PM for Capitol to Clinic: Drilling Down on Legislation, a free webinar co-hosted by Catalyst and Virginia Health Care Foundation.

This is a conversation you don't want to miss. Oral health policy is moving fast, from the Virginia General Assembly session to federal developments like HR1, and the decisions being made right now will shape access to care for hundreds of thousands of Virginians.

Whether you're a provider, advocate, policymaker, or community member, this session is designed to give you the information and tools you need to navigate a rapidly changing landscape. Thank you to our partners: DentaQuest, Cardinal Care, and Delta Dental of Virginia

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/-daxfOcESc6YTtao38LZxw #/registration

04/21/2026

Oral health care for 750,000+ Virginians is at a crossroads, and decisions are being made right now that will shape health outcomes for years to come.

In our most recent newsletter, we break down what's at stake: a proposed cap on Medicaid dental coverage, two new workforce bills signed into law, a free upcoming webinar on the legislative session, and more.

Read it, share it, and take action: https://prod.cdn.everyaction.com/emails/van/EA/EA019/1/123192/k_DgylecUiZhYPeRHi_-EqRi_sTTxoZwp5Sko-oFiAH_archive

04/21/2026

Capping dental benefits does not reduce costs; it shifts them. It moves expenses from preventive, cost-effective care to crisis-driven, high-cost interventions. It burdens hospitals, strains the Medicaid system, and leaves patients sicker with more out-of-pocket costs.

In a joint column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, leaders from the Virginia Dental Association, VCU Dentistry, Virginia Community Healthcare Association, Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation, and the Virginia Health Catalyst are urging Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly to protect Virginia's Dental Medicaid benefit by removing the proposed annual cap. Maintaining comprehensive dental coverage is not just a health decision; it is an economic one. It supports a stronger workforce, reduces unnecessary health care spending, and ensures that vulnerable Virginians are not left behind.

04/20/2026

Catalyst CEO Vic McKenzie Jr. joined City of Newport News, VA - Government, Mayor Phillip Jones and Delegate Michael Feggans last week at the Virginia Black Maternal Health Summit in Richmond for a powerful panel: "Empowering Fatherhood: Redefining Parental Roles in Maternal Health."

The panel, hosted by Birth in Color RVA and Kenda Denia, called for a real investment in Black families: intentional policy, expanded access to care, and the meaningful engagement of fathers in maternal health outcomes.

We're proud to stand alongside partners doing this critical work. Thank you to Birth in Color for creating a space where community, policy, and lived experience meet.

04/13/2026

What does the latest state and federal legislation mean for oral health access in Virginia?

Join us on Thursday, April 30, from 1:00–2:15 PM for Capitol to Clinic: Drilling Down on Legislation, a free webinar co-hosted by Catalyst and Virginia Health Care Foundation.

This is a conversation you don't want to miss. Oral health policy is moving fast, from the Virginia General Assembly session to federal developments like HR1, and the decisions being made right now will shape access to care for hundreds of thousands of Virginians.

Whether you're a provider, advocate, policymaker, or community member, this session is designed to give you the information and tools you need to navigate a rapidly changing landscape. Thank you to our partners: DentaQuest, Cardinal Care and Delta Dental of Virginia

Register below

03/31/2026

The 2026 Virginia General Assembly session ended without a final budget, but the work isn't over. A special session begins April 23, and critical health care investments are still on the line.

Catalyst is advocating for:

✅ Removing the Medicaid adult dental benefit cap

✅ A $1M Dental Hygienist Funding Pool

✅ $30M for workforce development, including oral health programs

✅ $50M in drinking water infrastructure

We need your support. Read our March newsletter to learn what's at stake and how to take action:

Email from Virginia Health Catalyst The 2026 Virginia General Assembly regular session ended on March 14 without a finalized state budget. A special session will begin on April 23; until then, several

03/17/2026

From the playground rugrats to health equity champions. Meet the team working to improve health across Virginia.

03/12/2026

Cardinal News did some thorough reporting on the proposed $2,000 cap on Virginia’s Medicaid adult dental benefit. The article clearly highlights the impact of the dental cap. Sharing that a patient at Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center needed 23 teeth removed, with extractions costing $2,124.97, already above the proposed cap. Dentures would cost another $1,800, meaning care could be delayed or shifted to the patient out of pocket.

This matters deeply in rural Virginia. Appalachian Highlands serves a 14-county region with only about 29 dentists per 100,000 residents and a waitlist of about 3,000 people.

Thank you, Dr. Miller, for sharing what’s at stake. Maintaining the adult dental benefit is essential to whole-person health, and Catalyst will continue monitoring the impact of the cap to help protect access to care for Medicaid members.

Read the article:

Dentists warn that a $2,000 annual limit would halt treatment plans and worsen access to care in a region already short on providers.

02/13/2026

We’re proud to share that our CEO, Victor McKenzie, Jr., has been named a 2026 Dominion Energy Richmond History Maker by The Valentine.

He is being recognized for Promoting Access to Healthy Communities—a reflection of his leadership and the power of partnership in advancing equitable, whole-person health care across Virginia.

Congratulations, Vic!

https://thevalentine.org/news/the-valentine-announced-2026-dominion-energy-richmond-history-makers-honorees/

02/12/2026

More than 750,000 Virginians rely on Medicaid’s adult dental benefit for essential care.

A proposed $2,000 cap could force patients to delay or stop treatment, reversing progress and increasing emergency visits.

The House Appropriations Committee needs to hear from you.

Send a message today supporting Budget Item 291 and protect comprehensive oral health coverage.

https://fastdemocracy.com/campaigns/v6EK6j7D3/Action-Alert--Support-Medicaid-Adult-Dental-Benefit/