Dentists are one of the most in-demand medical professionals in the United States. This is because oral health is a vital part of our overall As a result, many dentists are now covered under Medicaid. Another factor that contributes to the increase in dental visits is the fact that the recent baby boom generation is aging, making them more likely to manage their teeth than previous generations.

What are The Benefits of Having Dental Coverage Through Medicaid?
Medicaid is a health insurance program that offers low-income people and their families free or affordable coverage. It is supported by the federal government as well as individual states. Adult dental care, on the other hand, depends on each state. Anyone younger than the age of 21 who is on Medicaid and lives in any state can obtain most dental services.

One of the most important benefits of having dental coverage through Medicaid is that dental coverage saves costs for all. According to research, people living in poverty significantly spend a higher portion of their yearly income on dental treatments than those who have higher incomes — and yet face significant unmet needs. Making dental coverage a needed benefit for adults who enroll in Medicaid can help divert and distribute care from hospital settings to community health centers and dental offices. This could save nearly $2 billion per year.

How Does Medicaid Decide Which Dentists Are Covered?
The population of dentists in the state Medicaid programs is a vital aspect of the dental care safety net that ought to serve about 75 million covered adults and children. Some research indicates that there is a connection between dentist participation in Medicaid and the accessibility of dental care for low-income individuals.

Numerous criteria are used to measure dentists who participate in Medicaid, including the volume of patients, provider enrollment, claims, and share of revenues. These measures yield various levels and distributions of provider participation.

Research shows that the variation in dentist participation in Medicaid is by state and dentist characteristics, including race/ethnicity, gender, age, and practice characteristics such as urban/rural status, specialty, and affiliation with dental service organizations. Other factors that might have also been associated with future Medicaid participation among dental school graduates include student debt, tuition levels, and community-based training.

What are The Challenges of Providing Dental Coverage Through Medicaid?
There are several challenges in providing dental coverage through Medicaid. One of which is because there are few dental offices and dentists who have Medicaid privileges at hospitals, the waitlist for dental surveys takes longer. Many Medicaid recipients who are eligible for dental care have not seen a dentist in a long time, with many of them having cavities or other dental issues that need to be addressed and monitored. Finally, these issues have arisen as a result of a lack of knowledge about the benefits of being on Medicaid, along with a lack of dentists who accept Medicaid.

References
1. https://www.carequest.org/about/blog-post/three-reasons-why-adults-medicaid-need-dental-coverage
2. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/HPI/Files/HPIGraphic_0820_1.pdf
3. Nasseh K, Vujicic M. The relationship between education debt and career choices in professional programs: The case of dentistry. JADA. 2017;148(11):825-833

Post URL: https://dentistsmedicaid.com/blog/7,Dental-Coverage-Through-Medicaid/

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