Please be advised that the SC Dental Association is aware of plans by the state's Medicaid program to stop paying for adult dental, vision and hospice services and cut home health visits by a third for the state's elderly and disabled in February.  On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services will ask the state's Budget and Control Board to allow it to run a $228 million deficit for the rest of the current budget year.  If the board doesn't go along with its plans, the agency has said it will shut down payments from the state's Medicaid program to doctors and hospitals.  The general feeling is that the State will allow DHHS to operate on a deficit.

Dr. Jim Mercer who serves on the MCAC Advisory Board was on the conference call this past Friday when the planned cuts were announced.  The SCDA has been in discussions with its lobbyists and plans are being made to team up with other professional groups being affected and send  an official response.

Please watch for future emails and faxes from your Association regarding this situation.