Dental care for kids is extremely important
In 2000, Citizens for Missouri’s Children issued a comprehensive report, “Dental Care Counts”, on the state of dental services for St. Louis children insured by MC+/Medicaid. The findings of that report highlighted the critical need for providing better access to dental care for low-income children participating in Medicaid. Despite good-faith initiatives to address this void, including the institution of mobile dental vans and volunteer dental service programs, the crisis has only deteriorated over the ensuing eight years.The typical dentist is hard-pressed to participate in MC+/Medicaid programs due to abysmally low reimbursement rates. Many common dental procedures for children are reimbursed by the State at less than half—and sometimes as low as two-thirds—of prevailing standard fees for services. This, coupled with the administrative burden imposed by complex documentation requirements and a general shortage of dental professionals in Missouri, have conspired to deter otherwise charitable and well-meaning dentists from serving Medicaid patients.Children covered by Medicaid are not alone in their inability to secure adequate dental care. As your article suggests, there is a fast-growing population who possess only bare-bones coverage or no insurance whatsoever to access dental care. Last year, our clinic, Dental Care for Kids, accommodated over 13,000 visits from young patients, the vast majority of whom were poor. Only halfway through this year, we are closing in on that number and are likely to surpass it by year’s end. Our Clinic’s policy is to treat all children regardless of their ability to pay. Up till now, we have been able to achieve this lofty goal through a combination of budgeting and scheduling measures. Whether we will be able to sustain this longstanding practice in the wake of the ever-growing demand for services and scarce resources is questionable. Poor oral health and dental defects can lead to lifelong problems with appetite, pain, chronic infection and disease, as well as problems associated with disturbing self-image and low self-esteem. While your article made no recommendations for redress, it is clear that clinics like ours cannot possibly continue to bridge the gap over the long haul. The Citizens for Missouri’s Children report includes a number of excellent proposals for addressing this problem. Legislators and public interest groups should continue the discussion contained in that report, expanding its scope of recommendations to include all citizens lacking access to adequate and affordable dental care. Lyn PickelClinic AdministratorHealth and Dental Care for Kids
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(Link) McCain plan to reform health care: It’s scary
“The proposal should scare the heck out of the millions of Americans who rely on employer-based coverage. Iowans who have tried to buy affordable coverage on their own know they need more than a tax credit and good health. Sometimes they need a winning lottery ticket.
Buying individual policies means having your health history reviewed. It means not having the bargaining power and protections that come with being part of a plan offered by an employer. And it’s expensive.”