The Joint Legislative Audit Committee on June 1 approved an audit request aimed at the Department of Human Resources’ dental benefits procurement, turning long-running questions about the state’s dental plan into a formal oversight review.
The hearing record shows the request was introduced by Sen. Scott Cortese and supported by the California Dental Association and representatives of California retirees. Eric Dowdy, speaking for CDA, said the audit should examine whether the state employee dental benefit system is delivering meaningful access to care and whether CalHR’s procurement and oversight process is producing enough competition, accountability, transparency and value. Ted Toppen was identified as representing California State retirees.
Dowdy said Delta Dental has held the contract since 1984 and argued that annual maximum benefits have remained largely unchanged even as the cost of dental care has risen. The committee also heard CalHR’s response that the network remains strong despite provider turnover. According to the transcript, CalHR said Delta Dental lost 454 providers in 2025 but added 1,603 new providers, including gains in rural areas.
CalHR also said it conducted a 2025 request for proposals, that Delta Dental was one of the vendors to respond, and that MetLife will offer two plans with out-of-state coverage going forward. The transcript appears partially garbled, but it clearly indicates that the audit motion received a second and that the audit was approved by vote at the end of the item.
The hearing was part of a broader committee meeting that also approved an audit request involving the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration.
