SC to cut adult dental Medicaid services

South Carolina has become the latest state to propose cutting adult dental Medicaid benefits in a bid to address a looming budget deficit.

The state's Medicaid program plans to stop paying for adult dental, vision, and hospice services in February 2011, according to an Associated Press (AP) story.

The cuts even include umbrella and crutch holders for people who use wheelchairs, the story stated.

The state Department of Health and Human Services faces a $228 million deficit. If the cuts aren't approved, the agency has said it will have to stop all Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals in March. South Carolina is the only state in the U.S. where legislators have barred reducing these payments to doctors and hospitals, the AP reported.

But doctors and dentists said the cuts will create larger problems.

Columbia, SC, oral surgeon Jim Mercer, DDS, noted the state pays for adult emergency dental services only when there is pain and swelling, according to the story. He questioned plans to save $3.6 million by eliminating that care for 43,500 people. Those people instead will likely seek care at an emergency room, which can be more expensive, Dr. Mercer said.

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