The widening gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the real cost of providing dental care in North Carolina has reached its boiling point, according to a Sept. 19 report by Public News Service.
Medicaid reimbursement rates in the state have not been updated since 2008, and it is taking a toll on both providers and patients.
Dentists that provide care for Medicaid patients are only receiving about 30 to 35% of the actual cost of the services, according to Rafael Rivera, DDS, owner of a dental practice in North Carolina.
Due to the lack of funding, dental practices cannot afford to attract and retain skilled staff members. As a result, many Medicaid patients receive services for dental issues at emergency rooms, which is often more expensive and less effective.
Dr. Rivera called on the state to not only increase reimbursement rates, but create a system to review rates on a regular basis to help dental practices keep up with inflation.