Currently, the costs of dental care for adults and children can be quite expensive. The fee for Medicaid West Point MS reimbursement can also be a factor in the cost of dental care. As a result, future research should look at the impact of the expansion of Medicaid and changes in adult dental coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Cost of dental care for adults
Depending on your state, the cost of dental care for adults on Medicaid can vary. While many states offer a limited amount of dental services, others offer comprehensive coverage. This coverage may include preventative care, cleanings, exams, and other dental procedures.
The American Dental Association (ADA) describes preventative measures as “practices that reduce the risk of developing dental problems and improve the health of the mouth, teeth, gums and other oral structures.” These practices might be free or cost a nominal amount.
Whether or not a state provides extensive adult dental benefits will depend on the state’s budget. Typically, the first cutbacks made when states face budget pressures are to adult dental services. The result could be ripple effects throughout the rest of society.
Cost of dental care for children
Having access to dental services is important for both children and parents. Without adequate dental care, dental problems can lead to lower birth weights, decreased self-esteem and sleep issues. They can also negatively impact the school experience. Whether your child is a Medicaid beneficiary or not, it is important to visit a dentist.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has a requirement that states provide dental benefits for children enrolled in Medicaid. While the benefit is not always extended to adults, the policy has a proven track record for helping poor children receive needed dental care. The state must determine the medical necessity of each service and provide the necessary treatment. In addition, the services must be performed at intervals that meet reasonable standards of dental practice.
Impact of Medicaid fee rate on children’s use of dental care
Increasing the Medicaid fee rate led to an increase in utilization rates. In turn, these increases resulted in an increase in expenditures. A new study examines the impact of this fee rate change on children’s dental care. The authors found that more generous payment policies led to modest increases in preventive dental visits for children.
To determine the effects of the fee change, the study examined changes in county-level data before and after the change in reimbursement rates. The county-level data included demographics, enrollment and zip codes, and location information. They were derived from state reports. In addition, OHA provided claims data. Using this data, the study estimates ATTs for each state, over time. These estimates are statistically significant.
The study also explored subgroup analyses by race and ethnicity. The results showed that age distributions were similar between PREDICT and control counties. The distribution of race and gender was different between the two groups.
Limits to study on Medicaid reimbursement and dental care
Adding dental benefits to Medicaid would require Congress to make a number of design decisions. These decisions would include benefit standards, premiums, and payment rates. Depending on federal matching rates, the states may share the cost of the new benefits.
Providing low-income adults with adult dental benefits improves access to dental care. This is particularly important given that the lack of dental coverage increases emergency department visits for dental services. Moreover, the lack of routine dental care delays diagnosis of serious health conditions. These delays result in more expensive treatments later. However, little research has been conducted to study the effect of state dental fees on participation in Medicaid.
This article estimates the association between state Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental care in 2000 and 2008. The results show a positive association between higher dental reimbursement rates and increased access to dental care.
Future research should examine impact of Medicaid expansion and changes in adult dental coverage in the context of ACA implementation
During the early years of the Affordable Care Act, a number of states expanded their Medicaid West Point MS programs. This expanded coverage meant more pent up demand for dental care. Several state studies found that expanding Medicaid’s coverage of dental services had a positive effect on low-income nonelderly adults’ use of dental services.
The same can’t be said for states that did not expand. According to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of uninsured below the poverty level is higher in states that did not expand Medicaid. These states also do not receive the increased funding that is available to the states that did expand their Medicaid programs.
There is a lot of debate about the impact of the ACA on the state of health care. Some argue that the ACA’s coverage expansions are the logical next step. Others argue that the ACA is flawed and should be repealed in the near term.
