NEW YORK, NY, USA: US dentists are more likely to offer emergency dental care to children enrolled in private insurance schemes than those with Medicaid, the country’s health programme for the poor. These alarming findings are the result of an undercover study conducted among 85 dental practices in the state of Illinois. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania posed as mother of a fictional 10-year-old boy with an acute oral injury.
According to the study, only six dentists offered an appointment to children with public health insurance. However, chances increased significantly when dentists were enrolled in Medicaid. All dentists offered an appointment to privately insured children.
Medicaid currently reimburses all emergency dental care.
The findings confirm earlier studies that have painted a sad picture of the country’s dental health care system for disadvantaged children. According to a 2010 study by the PEW Center, one in five children in the US lack access to dental care owing to low income and resources. In the last few years, further investments in Medicaid have been ignored by state and government officials.
“Lack of funding is among the greatest barriers to better oral health in America. But funding alone will not ‘fix’ Medicaid. Patients need help navigating an often complicated bureaucracy and overcoming other barriers,” Raymond F. Gist, President of the American Dental Association (ADA) said on Monday. “These programmes cannot reach their potential without other significant reforms. These include reducing unnecessary red tape for dentists and patients, and helping patients overcome such related barriers as the needs for transportation, child care or permission to take time off from school or work to receive treatment.”
For years, the ADA has been lobbying for more Medicare funding. The association has also started a pilot programme to train health workers in providing treatment to people that have problems accessing oral health care.
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