Medical assistance dental provisions modified.

HF 2690 modifies Minnesota's medical assistance dental coverage by requiring the state commissioner to contract with a dedicated dental administrator starting January 1, 2026, if current managed care and county plans fail to meet performance benchmarks for dental access in 2024. This administrator will handle provider networks, claims processing, and ensure recipients have choice of dental providers meeting state payment rates, with a specific requirement that at least 55% of continuously enrolled medical assistance or MinnesotaCare recipients receive a dental visit by 2029. The bill also establishes a Health Services Advisory Council with a dental subcouncil to advise on evidence-based dental policies, coverage, and delivery models. These changes directly affect medical assistance and MinnesotaCare recipients (including low-income populations), dental providers, and managed care plans.