Kan. dental assn. works to expand Medicaid services

The Kansas Dental Association (KDA) has launched an initiative to increase participation in the state Medicaid program in an effort to expand the services provided to Kansas children, the organization announced.

KDA's goal for this volunteer program is to increase the number of dentists that accept and actively participate in the Medicaid program to better help supplement the charitable dental services already being delivered in the state, according to KDA President Hal Hale, DDS.

A recent Pew report, "The State of Children's Dental Health: Making Coverage Matter," estimated that each dentist provides $33,000 annually in free and reduced care. In Kansas, it is estimated that dentists in the state provide $46.3 million in free and reduced care annually to residents. The charitable care is provided daily in dental practices, clinics, and community settings, and the annual Kansas Mission of Mercy dental project has served some 20,000 Kansans, Dr. Hale noted.

"But those programs of charitable care -- as impressive as the numbers are -- just aren't enough," Dr. Hale stated in a press release.

While the Medicaid dental program currently only covers children, "we have introduced legislation to expand its services to adults who meet Medicaid eligibility guidelines," he added. "And we are also hoping policymakers in Topeka can ease the administrative burdens that can be a barrier for some healthcare providers to participate."

The oral health needs of Kansas won't be addressed by any one, single approach, Dr. Hale said.

"We will continue to look for ways to increase access without sacrificing the high standard of care that Kansans deserve," he said. "In that regard, we are engaged in discussions with policymakers to increase the supply of licensed dentists in the state and to further identify and eliminate impediments to meet our state's needs. We appreciate the keen interest expressed and look forward to progress in the months and years ahead."