May 25, 2007

Poor children denied treatment by state's low reimbursement rates.

There are an estimated 250,000 children from poor families in Connecticut who do not have regular access to dental care because the state's Medicaid reimbursement rates are so astonishingly low. Only an estimated 100 dentists in the entire state even see substantial numbers of children covered by the HUSKY Medicaid program.

Each time a dentist treats a HUSKY patient, he or she loses money. HUSKY pays $38 for a filling for which the normal charge is about $160; $24 for a routine cleaning for which the regular charge is about $85.

The HUSKY reimbursement rates are so low because the state has not increased them since 1993 - 14 years.

If the intention is to save money at the expense of promised care to protect children's health, it is a short-sighted budget balancing move that in the long run has proved costly. Lack of regular dental care leads to other dental problems that cost far more to fix on an emergency basis.

The denial of care can have tragic consequences. A seventh-grader in Maryland died in February because his mother was unable to find a dentist willing to see her son because of the low reimbursement rate there. Bacteria from an abscessed tooth spread to the boy's brain. Two operations and therapy failed to save his life.

The cost of the failed emergency treatment, $250,000. The cost of extracting a tooth, $200.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell included in her budget no increase in the HUSKY dental reimbursement rate.

However, the legislature's Appropriations Committee has approved a $20 million increase. Half the money would be paid back by the federal government.

The increase is not enough. But, it would bring the reimbursement to dentists up to 70 percent of their normal rates. A dentist would not risk immediate bankruptcy by treating children covered in the HUSKY program. After 14 years, this increase is long overdue. The legislature should approve it and the governor, who has ignored this health crisis, should support it.

HUSKY parents have to make painful choices because most are unable to get needed dental care for their kids under the State's program for poor children.

This message is expertly promoted in a recent newspaper ad and by a radio ad currently running on WTIC-AM during weekday mornings. Paid for by the Connecticut State Dental Association on behalf of the Connecticut Oral Health Coalition, the ad is focused on getting the Governor and the Legislature to raise HUSKY dental rates for the first time in 14 years.

Listen to the Radio Ad, See the Newspaper Ad . . .

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About Connecticut Oral Health Initiative

The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, or COHI for short, is a state-wide collaborative of dental professionals, business and community leaders. Our Mission is Oral Health Care for All. We work to persuade, educate and inform decision makers and the general public about the important issues involving oral health. We started in 1992 as a project of the Connecticut State Dental Association and incorporated as a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 2003. We are supported by your tax-deductible contribution and grants from progressive foundations and businesses.

Website: http://www.ctoralhealth.org

Connecticut Oral Health Initiative Marty Milkovic Executive Director email: martym@ctoralhealth.org phone: 860-246-COHI (2644)