Maryland Contract Will Expand Access to Dental Services to Medicaid Beneficiaries

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a three-year, $6.8 million contract with insurer Doral Dental Services to reimburse dentists for treating Medicaid beneficiaries, the Washington Post reports. According to health officials, the contract will improve access to dental care for about 435,000 low-income children and pregnant women in the state. The General Assembly approved millions of dollars to improve dental care for low-income children after a 12-year-old Maryland boy died in 2007 when a tooth infection spread to his brain because he lacked access to dental care. Most of the funds were used to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental care because many dentists had declined to treat child Medicaid beneficiaries (Rein, Washington Post, 1/29).