The American Dental Association is urging Congress to create policies that make it easier for Medicaid patients to receive oral health services and dentists to enroll in Medicaid.
A report from the ADA's Health Policy Institute and the Association of Dental Support Organizations found that nearly 60% of Medicaid beneficiaries could not receive dental care because they were unable to find a Medicaid-enrolled dentist, according to an Aug. 16 news release from the ADA.
Dentists surveyed in the report pointed to low reimbursement rates and a lack of coverage for comprehensive procedures and administrative constraints that prevent them from participating in state Medicaid programs.
Two out of five beneficiaries in the study were also unable to get care due to out-of-pocket costs or the lack of dental services covered by Medicaid.
The ADA and ADSO pushed legislators to focus on the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act and the Strengthening Medicaid Incentives for Licensees Enrolled in Dental Act, both of which are currently before Congress.
The dental benefit act mandates dental coverage for all adult Medicaid beneficiaries and the strengthening incentives act attempts to reduce the administrative burdens that prevent dentists from staying in or joining Medicaid.
Read the full report here.