Utah may have to raise dental Medicaid payments

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is concerned that recent cuts in payments to dentists under Utah's Medicaid program may affect pregnant women and children and could require the state to reinstate its original rate, according to a news story in The Salt Lake Tribune.

In a recent move Utah lawmakers rolled back a 24% jump in pay that dentists received in 2008 and also reduced their 4.5% cost of living raise.

"We feel a moral obligation to treat (children), but the state doesn't feel that way," said Jason Horgesheimer, president of the Utah Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, in the story. "We're providing all of this charity care and we just can't continue doing it and maintain a small, viable business."

The CMS is currently reviewing Utah's state plan amendment.

"There are regulations about access," said Mike Fierberg, a spokesman for the agency, in the story. "We're not sure (Utah is) running afoul of it or not. We're still working with the state on trying to come up with a state plan amendment, or SPA, and the discussions are still ongoing."