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Owensboro, Kentucky 42301
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Pages

1
- Background
2
- Option 1: Rely on dentists in private practices
3
- Option 2: Create a new clinic or expand existing ones
4
- Option 3: Advocate for reimbursement increases
5
- Option 4: Focus on prevention
6
- Discussion Questions / Dental Data
7
- For More Information / To Get Involved / Share Your Views / Sources

Dental care for disadvantaged youth

Local options for expanded services

by Rodney Berry

Community Options: Expanding Dental Care for Disadvantaged Youth

3. Advocate for reimbursement increases

If state and federal government reimbursements for Medicaid and K-CHIP programs were increased fairly and regularly, dentists would already be accepting more patients and services for disadvantaged youth would not likely even be an issue. This option suggests that we should mobilize citizens to urge state legislators to increase Medicaid and K-CHIP reimbursements to dentists.

Those who support this option may say

Those who oppose this option may say

It has been many years since Medicaid and K-CHIP reimbursements were increased, yet the costs of operating dental practices have increased significantly. Less than one percent of state Medicaid dollars are set aside for dental care. Reimbursements cover only 35 percent to 50 percent of a dentist’s standard charges.
Public officials should have the courage to redirect or raise revenues to provide these fundamental, vital services for our youth and disadvantaged populations.
Kentucky should leverage its 40 percent share of Medicaid costs to take advantage of the 60 percent match from the federal government.

Even if reimbursements doubled – which is unlikely in light of current government financial pressures – some dentists would still be losing money on Medicaid patients they treat.
Increasing reimbursements is impractical. Medicaid already consumes 22 percent of Kentucky’s annual spending, close to $5 billion per year, with projected shortfalls of several hundred million dollars. Medicaid officials are already forced to either reduce provider reimbursements, patient benefits, or the number of people eligible for Medicaid.
We need to reduce public expectations in medical and dental care. People need to understand the actual cost of care and accept a greater sense of responsibility for their own care and that of their children.

Costs

If, for example, Medicaid reimbursements to dentists were increased by 10 percent statewide, the Medicaid budget would increase by $12-$20 million (including the federal match).

Consequences

Added costs to increase reimbursements would be passed along through increased state and federal taxes unless comparable cuts are made in other programs. This option would increase significantly the number of dentists who accept Medicaid and K-CHIP patients.

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