MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Healthy Kids Dental contract to Delta Dental of Michigan. The program serves approximately 955,000 children under age 21 in Michigan.

Healthy Kids Dental is a dental benefit program for children enrolled in Medicaid. It covers services such as X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and sealants at no cost to families. The program provides access to a network of dental professionals across Michigan and promotes patient-centered best practices for children.

The goal of the program is for children and their families to have a better understanding of the value of daily oral health and preventive dental care to support lifelong healthy habits.

“For more than 25 years, Michigan’s Healthy Kids Dental program has helped improve the oral health of millions of children across the state,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director.

The Department of Technology, Management and Budget issued a Request for Proposals on behalf of MDHHS in November, seeking to further improve the quality and access to oral health services for enrollees served through Healthy Kids Dental.

Bids were reviewed by a joint evaluation committee. The new five-year contract will begin Thursday, Oct. 1.

More information about Healthy Kids Dental is available at HealthyKidsDental.org. Information on additional Medicaid benefits is available at Michigan.gov/MIBridges.