CA AB350

Requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, that cover fluoride varnish as a pediatric oral care benefit to provide that coverage without cost sharing, regardless of whether billed as a dental or medical benefit

Expands Medi-Cal coverage of fluoride or other appropriate fluoride treatment to all children under 21 years of age, up from the previous limit of children 17 and under

Mandates the State Department of Health Care Services establish a billing policy by January 1, 2027, specifying that fluoride varnish coverage applies regardless of whether billed as dental or medical and allowing reimbursement when applied by persons employed by or contracted with Medi-Cal providers who are authorized under law to apply fluoride varnish

Includes a provision that the commercial insurance coverage requirement ceases to apply if the state is required to defray costs, unless appropriations are made for that purpose

Contains legislative findings citing that California's third graders have higher tooth decay rates than the national median, only 51% of Medi-Cal children received dental services in 2024, and fewer than one in five Medi-Cal enrolled children receives the recommended twice-yearly fluoride varnish application