State investment will support Kern Medical Mobile Dental Unit, bringing care directly to communities

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (October 20, 2026)—State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) announced $2 million in state funding for Kern Medical to expand access to dental care through a new Mobile Dental Unit, bringing critical oral health services closer to families throughout Kern County for the first time.

The investment will give Kern Medical another tool to reach patients where they are, helping reduce transportation and geographic barriers that can make routine dental care difficult to access.

“I’ve watched someone I love live with dental pain because they couldn’t afford the treatment they needed, and I know how difficult that can be,” Senator Hurtado said. “Here in the Central Valley, too many families know that struggle. We already face serious health challenges including heart disease and diabetes, and poor dental health can make things worse. Families shouldn’t have to travel miles, miss work, or wait until they’re in unbearable pain to get help. That’s why I fought to bring this investment to Kern County. Dental care is healthcare, and every family deserves access to it.”

Hurtado joined Kern Medical Chief Executive Officer Scott Thygerson and local community partners Tuesday at Kern Medical in Bakersfield to celebrate the investment and highlight how mobile care can reach patients beyond traditional clinic walls.

Kern Medical already operates mobile health clinics at schools and community locations across Kern County. The $2 million investment will build on that community-based approach by expanding access specifically to dental services and allowing care to be brought directly into communities.

“At Kern Medical, we believe access to quality healthcare should not be limited to where someone lives,” said Scott Thygerson, Chief Executive Officer of Kern Medical. “This investment will allow us to bring essential dental services directly to the communities that need them most, helping us remove barriers to care and improve the health and well-being of families throughout Kern County.”

Access to dental care remains an important piece of Kern County’s broader health needs. Kern County’s Community Health Improvement Plan specifically identified a mobile dental unit traveling throughout the county as a strategy for improving access to care.

The new state investment helps turn that identified need into a tangible resource for Kern County residents.

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties.

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