September 5, 2025
Dear Valued GPDO Patients and Families,
We are reaching out to share important news regarding a recent decision by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) that will impact dental care for Medicaid patients across the state.
Beginning October 1, 2025, unless the state legislature approves additional funding, Medicaid dental reimbursements will be reduced by 3%. While this reduction may appear minor at first glance, the reality is much more significant. Dental reimbursements in North Carolina have not been increased since 2006, and this additional cut only deepens the challenge of providing quality care under already low reimbursement rates.
As a result, many dental practices in our area have chosen to withdraw from the Medicaid system altogether. At Goldsboro Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our commitment has always been to serve children and families in Wayne County and the surrounding areas. Still, these reductions place us in a challenging position.
To ensure we can continue to provide excellent care while navigating this change, we must begin limiting the number of Medicaid patients we schedule daily. Please note the following:
- Existing Appointments – All currently scheduled in-office and for General Anesthesia procedures will proceed as planned with no changes.
- New Patients – Scheduling wait times may be extended. As many of you already know, we currently have extended scheduling times due to the high demand for Pediatric Specialty dental care in our area.
- Current Patients of Record – If appointments are missed or rescheduled, please be aware that wait times for the next available opening may also be extended.
- Emergency Patients – We will evaluate emergencies for all patient types on a case-by-case basis.
We want to emphasize that this decision does not come lightly. Our mission remains to provide safe, compassionate, and exceptional dental care to all children, regardless of financial or insurance barriers. However, these reductions directly affect the resources available to practices like ours that choose to continue serving Medicaid families. We are hopeful that this will not be a long-term resolution.
We encourage you to contact your local legislators today and urge them to support increases, not decreases, in Medicaid reimbursement rates. These adjustments are crucial for maintaining access to dental care for children who need it most.
Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s dental care. We remain committed to serving our patients with excellence and compassion, even in the face of these unprecedented challenges.
With gratitude,
Dr. Timothy Imafidon
Dr. Erin Smith
