Dental Care Access Lacking for Connecticut Medicaid Beneficiaries

Connecticut's low Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental procedures have caused some dentists to stop accepting Medicaid beneficiaries in a state that is already experiencing dentist shortages, the Hartford Courant writes. Currently, about 4% of the state's 2,237 dentists treat large numbers of low-income patients, and some children with Medicaid must wait six months for procedures such as cavity fillings. Last year in Connecticut, about 33% of children with Medicaid had a check-up or a cleaning, and about 20% received fillings or tooth extractions. At the same time, studies have found that low-income children are more likely than others to have tooth decay. Although poor nutrition and habits may contribute to the discrepancy between low-income children's and other children's incidence of tooth decay, "the inability to find a dentist is by far the biggest factor," the Courant writes. A report commissioned by the not-for-profit Connecticut Health Foundation, which has awarded more than $2 million in grants to clinics and programs to improve preventive dental care, recommends that the state raise Medicaid reimbursements to dentists to increase the number of dentists who will treat Medicaid beneficiaries; the study says that Michigan, New Hampshire and Delaware increased the number of Medicare dentists by increasing reimbursements. The report also recommended that the state provide grants to expand currently overcrowded public clinics in Hartford/East Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and New Britain, where 55% of the state's low-income children live but where only 18% of the state's private dentists have offices (Waldman, Hartford Courant, 6/8).

Shortage of Dentists, Low Medicaid Reimbursements Hamper Access in Maine
A shortage of dentists and dentists unwilling to accept Medicaid beneficiaries because reimbursement rates are "far lower" than expenses is restricting Maine residents' access to dental care, the Boston Globe writes. In some remote counties in the state, there is one dentist for every 3,200 residents, compared to one dentist per 1,600 residents nationally. Currently, dentists are paid a one-time bonus of $22.50 to accept a new Medicaid beneficiary; a proposal to increase that bonus to $150 will be discussed this month. This fall, a mobile dental clinic operated by the Penobscot Community Health Center will begin providing low-cost dental care to children in Presque Isle, Dover-Foxcroft, Pittsfield and Millinocket as well as on two American Indian reservations. However, no state health provisions for dental care were recommended by a recent task force that drew up Gov. John Baldacci's (D) health care reform bill, and no members of the dental community were invited to participate on the task force. Lee Umphrey, the governor's spokesperson, said dental care was not included in the discussions because there are not enough dentists in the state to provide greater coverage (Schweitzer, Boston Globe, 6/8).