Latest news with #PreetTakkar
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Prop 56 Cuts: Patients Will Suffer from Lack of Access to Proper Dental and Oral Healthcare – Leading to Severe and Costly Chronic Health Problems
ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 30, 2025-- Western Dental, California's largest Medi-Cal dental provider, with 223 offices in 35 counties across the state, will be forced to close offices if the current proposal to cut Proposition 56 funding moves forward. The company is evaluating the extent of the expected closures, along with other measures to offset the significant impact to dental offices. Proposition 56, a measure overwhelmingly passed by California voters in 2016, directed revenue from a new tobacco tax to increase access to care for individuals and families that qualify for Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) dental services. Prop 56 has not only made it possible for California dentists to provide access and care to more patients but also allowed new providers to open their doors and create a more stabilized and equitable health care system throughout the state, including areas where dentists were previously in short supply for everyone. 'Medi-Cal dental has been significantly under-resourced for decades. Proposition 56 provided critical funding that helped Western Dental open more than 100 new offices across the state and serve millions of patients, many in underserved areas who were otherwise without access to care,' said Preet Takkar, Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. 'The current budget proposal represents dramatic cuts to dental reimbursement rates, which would make it impossible to keep many of these new offices open, while also impacting additional practices statewide. This proposal would reignite the dental access crisis that existed before the passage of Prop 56 and would ultimately cost the state more in the long run. Unfortunately, dental practices like ours across California will have to make tough choices—reassessing staffing, hours, and office locations—if this funding is eliminated.' Today, Western Dental employs more than 4,000 people in California, including more than 750 dentists and hygienists who provide more than 1 million Medi-Cal patient visits every year. 'Dental care is more than just getting your teeth cleaned. It's essential primary care for children and systemic care for adults,' said Dr. Peter Truong, Western Dental's Chief Dental Officer. 'If dental care is eliminated or reduced, patients suffer adverse health consequences, including tooth decay, gum disease, systemic health issues and social and economic impacts that are far more costly to treat. Eliminating access to dental care will have significant health consequences for millions of Californians. 'Western Dental will be forced to make hard decisions in the coming weeks and months, should Prop 56 funding be eliminated. Unfortunately, that will likely include closing as many as 50 offices, reducing staff in many offices and reducing the number of Medi-Cal dental patients each practice is able to treat. The choices made by the Governor and California State Legislature will have a direct and immediate impact on access to necessary health care and jobs lost should Prop 56 funding be redirected and removed from dental care' added Mr. Takkar. About Western Dental Western Dental has been serving California communities for over 100 years, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable dental care. With over 200 locations across the state, Western Dental provides a full spectrum of services including general dentistry, orthodontics, and pediatric care — creating a convenient, comprehensive 'Dental Home' for families across California. As part of the Sonrava Health family of brands, Western Dental shares in the mission to expand access and drive innovation in dental care. View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact Ron Trujillo [email protected] KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT PRACTICE MANAGEMENT STATE/LOCAL MANAGED CARE PUBLIC POLICY GENERAL HEALTH HEALTH DENTAL SOURCE: Western Dental Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/30/2025 11:00 AM/DISC: 05/30/2025 11:01 AM
Business Wire
30-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Prop 56 Cuts: Patients Will Suffer from Lack of Access to Proper Dental and Oral Healthcare – Leading to Severe and Costly Chronic Health Problems
ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Dental, California's largest Medi-Cal dental provider, with 223 offices in 35 counties across the state, will be forced to close offices if the current proposal to cut Proposition 56 funding moves forward. The company is evaluating the extent of the expected closures, along with other measures to offset the significant impact to dental offices. Proposition 56, a measure overwhelmingly passed by California voters in 2016, directed revenue from a new tobacco tax to increase access to care for individuals and families that qualify for Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) dental services. Prop 56 has not only made it possible for California dentists to provide access and care to more patients but also allowed new providers to open their doors and create a more stabilized and equitable health care system throughout the state, including areas where dentists were previously in short supply for everyone. 'Medi-Cal dental has been significantly under-resourced for decades. Proposition 56 provided critical funding that helped Western Dental open more than 100 new offices across the state and serve millions of patients, many in underserved areas who were otherwise without access to care,' said Preet Takkar, Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. 'The current budget proposal represents dramatic cuts to dental reimbursement rates, which would make it impossible to keep many of these new offices open, while also impacting additional practices statewide. This proposal would reignite the dental access crisis that existed before the passage of Prop 56 and would ultimately cost the state more in the long run. Unfortunately, dental practices like ours across California will have to make tough choices—reassessing staffing, hours, and office locations—if this funding is eliminated.' Today, Western Dental employs more than 4,000 people in California, including more than 750 dentists and hygienists who provide more than 1 million Medi-Cal patient visits every year. 'Dental care is more than just getting your teeth cleaned. It's essential primary care for children and systemic care for adults,' said Dr. Peter Truong, Western Dental's Chief Dental Officer. 'If dental care is eliminated or reduced, patients suffer adverse health consequences, including tooth decay, gum disease, systemic health issues and social and economic impacts that are far more costly to treat. Eliminating access to dental care will have significant health consequences for millions of Californians. 'Western Dental will be forced to make hard decisions in the coming weeks and months, should Prop 56 funding be eliminated. Unfortunately, that will likely include closing as many as 50 offices, reducing staff in many offices and reducing the number of Medi-Cal dental patients each practice is able to treat. The choices made by the Governor and California State Legislature will have a direct and immediate impact on access to necessary health care and jobs lost should Prop 56 funding be redirected and removed from dental care' added Mr. Takkar. About Western Dental Western Dental has been serving California communities for over 100 years, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable dental care. With over 200 locations across the state, Western Dental provides a full spectrum of services including general dentistry, orthodontics, and pediatric care — creating a convenient, comprehensive 'Dental Home' for families across California. As part of the Sonrava Health family of brands, Western Dental shares in the mission to expand access and drive innovation in dental care.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Prop 56 Cuts: Patients Will Suffer from Lack of Access to Proper Dental and Oral Healthcare – Leading to Severe and Costly Chronic Health Problems
The largest Medi-Cal Dental provider in the state likely to shutter dozens of offices across California ORANGE, Calif., May 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Dental, California's largest Medi-Cal dental provider, with 223 offices in 35 counties across the state, will be forced to close offices if the current proposal to cut Proposition 56 funding moves forward. The company is evaluating the extent of the expected closures, along with other measures to offset the significant impact to dental offices. Proposition 56, a measure overwhelmingly passed by California voters in 2016, directed revenue from a new tobacco tax to increase access to care for individuals and families that qualify for Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) dental services. Prop 56 has not only made it possible for California dentists to provide access and care to more patients but also allowed new providers to open their doors and create a more stabilized and equitable health care system throughout the state, including areas where dentists were previously in short supply for everyone. "Medi-Cal dental has been significantly under-resourced for decades. Proposition 56 provided critical funding that helped Western Dental open more than 100 new offices across the state and serve millions of patients, many in underserved areas who were otherwise without access to care," said Preet Takkar, Chief Executive Officer of Western Dental. "The current budget proposal represents dramatic cuts to dental reimbursement rates, which would make it impossible to keep many of these new offices open, while also impacting additional practices statewide. This proposal would reignite the dental access crisis that existed before the passage of Prop 56 and would ultimately cost the state more in the long run. Unfortunately, dental practices like ours across California will have to make tough choices—reassessing staffing, hours, and office locations—if this funding is eliminated." Today, Western Dental employs more than 4,000 people in California, including more than 750 dentists and hygienists who provide more than 1 million Medi-Cal patient visits every year. "Dental care is more than just getting your teeth cleaned. It's essential primary care for children and systemic care for adults," said Dr. Peter Truong, Western Dental's Chief Dental Officer. "If dental care is eliminated or reduced, patients suffer adverse health consequences, including tooth decay, gum disease, systemic health issues and social and economic impacts that are far more costly to treat. Eliminating access to dental care will have significant health consequences for millions of Californians. "Western Dental will be forced to make hard decisions in the coming weeks and months, should Prop 56 funding be eliminated. Unfortunately, that will likely include closing as many as 50 offices, reducing staff in many offices and reducing the number of Medi-Cal dental patients each practice is able to treat. The choices made by the Governor and California State Legislature will have a direct and immediate impact on access to necessary health care and jobs lost should Prop 56 funding be redirected and removed from dental care" added Mr. Takkar. About Western Dental Western Dental has been serving California communities for over 100 years, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable dental care. With over 200 locations across the state, Western Dental provides a full spectrum of services including general dentistry, orthodontics, and pediatric care — creating a convenient, comprehensive "Dental Home" for families across California. As part of the Sonrava Health family of brands, Western Dental shares in the mission to expand access and drive innovation in dental care. View source version on Contacts Media ContactRon Trujilloron@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sonrava Health Appoints Preet Takkar as Chief Executive Officer
ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 10, 2025-- Sonrava Health, a national leader in oral health care, announced today that Preet Takkar, President and Chief Operating Officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Takkar brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record of operational leadership. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Preet Takkar named Chief Executive Officer of Sonrava Health (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Takkar rejoined Sonrava Health in October of 2024 after serving as Chief Operating Officer of Upstream Rehabilitation, a leading national provider of outpatient physical and occupational therapy services. Prior to his time at Upstream Rehabilitation, Mr. Takkar worked at Sonrava Health from 2015 to 2022, serving as Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. He brings a strong commitment to Sonrava Health's mission, deep familiarity with the organization, over two decades of dental experience and broad functional expertise as he takes the helm of the organization. 'On behalf of the Sonrava Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Preet Takkar has been appointed CEO of Sonrava Health. He has a deep understanding of the dental industry and the needs of Sonrava's patients,' commented Bert Notini a member of Sonrava Health's Board of Directors. 'Having spent over 25 years in the Dental Services industry, Preet is well prepared to lead the Company as it works continually to improve access to care, while leveraging emerging technologies to improve patient experiences.' 'I am honored and excited to step into the CEO role at Sonrava Health. We have a unique opportunity to build on the 120-year mission-focused legacy of the organization and continue the important work of expanding access to high-quality dental care,' said Preet Takkar. 'I look forward to leading this exceptional team as we enter the next phase of growth for the organization and most importantly, continue to address the oral healthcare needs of patients and communities across the country.' About Sonrava Health: Sonrava Health is a national leader in dental care, uniting a diverse family of brands and independent dentists dedicated to high-quality, affordable, and innovative care. With over 500 dental practices, the organization expands access to dental care, offering a wide range of specialty services, including orthodontics, implants, periodontics, oral surgery and pediatric dentistry creating a convenient, full service 'Dental Home' to improve oral health and overall well-being for communities nationwide. Bringing together a broad mix of providers and payors, Sonrava Health includes trusted brands like Western Dental & Orthodontics, Brident Dental & Orthodontics, DentalWorks, and more — united in a mission of quality, access, and innovation in care. Jennifer Craft SOURCE: Sonrava Health Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/10/2025 08:30 AM/DISC: 03/10/2025 08:30 AM
