Denti-Cal cuts would affect millions of lower-income Californians

More than 2.8 million Californians -- primarily poor, disabled, and elderly adults and their children -- stand to lose access to dental health services if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to eliminate Denti-Cal is implemented, according to an impact report released by the Oral Health Access Council (OHAC). The proposed cuts are part of Gov. Schwarzenegger's efforts to reduce the state's current $17.2 billion budget deficit.

Among other things, the OHAC report, "Adult Dental Medi-Cal Cuts: Costs & Benefits," shows that while Denti-Cal's elimination would result in only a minor reduction in state outlays, it would cause the loss of at least $115 million of federal matching funds, substitute more expensive services for less expensive treatments and preventive services, and exacerbate the problems of the safety net by placing more pressure on community clinics and emergency rooms.

Maryland and Massachusetts eliminated dental coverage to the poor and saw a huge upsurge in people seeking help in emergency rooms, Dana Hughes, co-author of the OHAC report, told the San Francisco Chronicle May 20.

Eliminating adult Denti-Cal would have significant ramifications statewide, including lower participation by dentists in Denti-Cal and fewer children receiving oral health services, the report found.

It would also create significant oral health and medical problems in pregnant women, plus problems for low-income, disabled, and elderly adults, according to Wynne Grossman, executive director of the Dental Health Foundation. While dental benefits would continue for children in the Medi-Cal program and adults in institutions such as nursing homes, adults who live independently and rely on Medi-Cal for their health insurance would not have dental benefits under the governor's proposal.

Adult Denti-Cal coverage includes diagnostic and preventive dental services, emergency treatment for control of pain and infection, fillings and tooth extractions, root canal treatments, and prosthetic appliances.